Marymount Manhattan to Merge With Northeastern

Good morning. It’s Wednesday. We’ll look at merger plans for a small college in Manhattan. We’ll also look at whether congestion pricing will mean cleaner air in places where drivers go to avoid the tolls in Manhattan.

Abby Fiorella, left, the chairwoman of the trustees of Marymount Manhattan College, and Peter Naccarato, its interim president.Credit…Via Marymount Manhattan College

Marymount Manhattan College, a small liberal arts school that has been buffeted by fluctuating enrollments, has agreed to merge with Northeastern University, which has expanded beyond its Boston base, in part by absorbing smaller colleges.

Marymount Manhattan’s name will change to Northeastern University-New York City when it joins Northeastern’s network, which includes campuses in London, Silicon Valley and Toronto. The merger is subject to approval by state and federal regulators and accreditation agencies, a process that could take two years or more.

Officials from Northeastern put the decision in the context of the troubling economics facing smaller colleges and universities — and Northeastern’s success with programs that give students on-the-job experience.

Joseph Aoun, the president of Northeastern, said he wanted to tap a far larger market for lifelong learners in New York — people who need to “re-skill and upskill” as technology reshapes the job market. He said that Marymount Manhattan, like Northeastern, had “placed great emphasis on interdisciplinary and experiential learning,” making the two schools a good fit.