UMass Amherst’s Mount Ida Campus to be Renamed Charles River Campus

The University of Massachusetts Amherst has announced that it will rename its center for professional development and experiential learning in Newton, Massachusetts the “Charles River Campus of UMass Amherst.” The name change will take effect in January 2026.

The campus has been the “Mount Ida Campus of UMass Amherst” since the university acquired the 66-acre property upon Mount Ida College’s closure in 2018. 

The renaming follows a six-month stakeholder input process with feedback from students, faculty, staff and university governance groups. Charles River Campus of UMass Amherst won out over other options due to its placemaking appeal and connection to Greater Boston.

“Our Greater Boston campus in Newton is an important strategic asset that will play a critical role in our efforts to educate, engage, connect, innovate and steward for the common good,” said Chancellor Javier A. Reyes. “This renaming represents an opportunity to better engage and align with the Greater Boston stakeholders partnered in our mission to expand educational access and fuel innovation and creativity in the commonwealth.”

“Given our growth trajectory and role in UMass Amherst’s ‘For the Common Good’ strategic plan, we felt the time was right for the campus name to better convey its geography and mission,” said Jeff Cournoyer, campus managing director and assistant chancellor for Greater Boston strategic initiatives. “Over the past seven years, we have rolled out a suite of programs with more in the pipeline. We’re excited to move forward with an identity that aligns with our academic programs while still preserving the history of the campus.”

The soon-to-be-renamed campus hosts comprehensive internship pathway programs in psychological & brain sciences, law and policy, and sociology that combine academic coursework with semesterlong internships at corporate, non-profit and public sector employers. Pathway programs in biology, applied humanities and engineering will come online in 2026 and 2027.

This year, UMass Amherst introduced the Career Launch program, which gives first-year students to spend a semester on the Newton campus exploring how to connect their academic discipline to career opportunities in Greater Boston.

Other undergraduate programs on the campus include veterinary technology, a Mount Ida College program adopted and redesigned by UMass Amherst. The campus also offers professional graduate programs, including master’s in business analytics and statistics, and workforce training programs. 

During the summer, the campus provides housing and professional development programming for students with internships in Greater Boston and hosts pre-college programs.

“The Charles River is a landmark synonymous with Greater Boston and is just steps from campus,” said Jennifer Reynolds, director of campus engagement on the Newton campus. “That it flows on a winding west-to-east path into the heart of the city serves as a powerful metaphor, both for our mission to connect students from the flagship campus in Western Massachusetts to the world-class employers in Greater Boston, and for the sometimes-non-linear professional journey of our students and alumni.” 

The renaming process includes a plan to ensure the preservation of Mount Ida College’s legacy. UMass Amherst will remain the institution of record for Mount Ida College, maintaining transcripts and other records for alumni. Mount Ida College endowments will continue to fund scholarships for students participating in programs on the campus, and the Robert S. Cox Special Collections University Archives (SCUA) will continue to make the Mount Ida College archives available to the public. An iconic mustang statue will be permanently preserved on campus, with a new plaque honoring the students, faculty, staff and supporters of Mount Ida College.