A struggling college in western Massachusetts will not admit a full freshman class this fall as it seeks a merger.
The Daily Hampshire Gazette reports Hampshire College trustees voted Friday to accept only students already granted a spot at the liberal arts college in Amherst. The newspaper says about 77 students have been accepted through deferred admission and the early acceptance process. The college has roughly 1,300 students.
Board Chair Gaye Hill told protesters Friday that it's a "time of extreme anxiety'' at Hampshire, which was founded in 1970 and is known for its alternative education model with no grades or majors.
The college announced last month it's seeking a "strategic partnership'' to support its future. Several small New England schools have closed or sought mergers in recent years.
