By Fred Thys

Jan. 22, 2019

The Massachusetts Board of Higher Education is considering a proposal that would allow the Department of Higher Education to intervene when private, nonprofit colleges are in danger of failing.

The proposal is to be presented at a board meeting Tuesday.

It seeks to address problems caused in some of the 17 closures or mergers of Massachusetts colleges in the past five years.

It’s the beginning of a blood bath,” said consultant Michael Horn, who writes about the business model of higher education. “Good for the Department of Higher Education for admitting that this is real.”