University cuts Cedrone Center programs following comprehensive review

Dylan Pichnarcik / THE GATEPOST

By Sophia Harris Editor-in-Chief After more than 30 years of providing graduate education to students around the world, Framingham State University has announced it will be discontinuing the programs offered through the Cedrone Center for International Education. This decision comes after an institutional review, led by President Nancy Niemi and under the consultation of the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE). “I wanted to celebrate and amplify the great things about our unique centers. I also wanted to know, from an operational standpoint, how they serve us because they exist outside of the normal departmental, academic structure - they're part of our community,” Niemi said. She said it was important for the University to know all of the operational details that go into its centers - “their budgets, their space, their personnel, and so on - just so we can be responsible.” Niemi said the process of shutting down the programs was started in November 2024 and was not influenced by President Donald Trump's recent threats to international students. The Cedrone Center has served as the umbrella for several international graduate education programs operating in partnership with International Education Programs, Inc. (IEP), a third-party provider, Niemi said. With the discontinuation of the IEP-affiliated programs, the Cedrone Center will cease to exist, Niemi said. The name “Cedrone Center” has been used for many years. It functioned as a designation for these international programs rather than a fully distinct entity with separate operations. These programs were unique in that they served internationally located students - some of whom are U.S. citizens living abroad, while others are citizens of other countries - through a model that relied heavily on online coursework and cohort-based learning, according to Marilyn Cleary, dean of graduate and continuing education. Niemi added, “It might seem like canceling programs would seem like we wouldn't have our students' best interests at heart, but we do in the long run.” She said although the internationally located students receive a degree from Framingham State, “They almost never will set foot on our campus.” Shortly after this internal initiative began, the University was also preparing for an accreditation visit by NECHE. Kristen Porter-Utley, provost and vice president for Academic Affairs, said the visiting team requested clearer evidence that FSU regularly assesses and reviews its international programs using the same standards as on-campus offerings. Cleary said because the Cedrone Center programs are operated internationally through a third-party IEP contract, “It became apparent that we were going to have some challenges in really being able to do the on-the-ground assessments because these programs are offered in other countries. … Because we can't travel to all of these countries, this was definitely a concern for us.” Currently, the Cedrone Center oversees four master’s programs and one certificate: Master of Education in International Teaching (Non-Licensure), Master of Education in Special Education (Non-Licensure), Master of Arts in Educational Leadership, Master of Education in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL), and Graduate Certificate in Special Education. According to Cleary, the programs are currently serving 175 students. This is across 11 cohorts in eight countries, including Guatemala, Mexico, Thailand, Vietnam, Honduras, South Korea, Panama, and Italy. Cleary said each cohort is geographically based and students either progress together at the same pace or can function as a rolling group with staggered entry points for student enrollment. Niemi said Framingham State is actively supporting students currently enrolled in these programs through a teach-out partnership with Fitchburg State University. Cleary said students in the TESOL and Special Education programs will be able to complete their degrees at FSU. She added these two programs are also offered on campus, which makes the transition seamless and cost-neutral. Students in the International Teaching and Educational Leadership programs will complete their studies at Fitchburg State University, which offers similar degree paths, Cleary said. She added students will now pay Fitchburg’s regular graduate tuition, which is an increase in cost from what they are currently paying for the program. Cleary said, “We're really excited to partner with Fitchburg. We have such a good relationship with them.” She added, “We had opportunities to partner with other institutions, but some charged higher tuition or accepted fewer transfer credits.” Porter-Utley said, “Fitchburg offers great value, and the programs closely mirror what we have been offering. It was important to us to ensure a smooth, high-quality transition.” She added to help students with this transition, the University has appointed a full-time aide, Raquel Riberti-Bill, in the Division of Graduate and Continuing Education, who will be the main point of contact for current students in these programs. Porter-Utley said Riberti-Bill has been working closely with both FSU and Fitchburg State to make the transition easier for students. Cleary said, “There have already been information sessions [at Fitchburg State], and our teams are in constant communication. … We’ve created a true partnership and a warm handoff to ensure students are supported every step of the way.” Niemi said FSU has created a partnership with Fitchburg State because “we care deeply about the students in these programs.” Porter-Utley said whether students are completing their degree at Framingham or transitioning to Fitchburg, “They’ll be earning a degree from institutions with long histories of excellence in teacher education.” Niemi said, “We did a fair amount of due diligence and came to the conclusion that it was not in Framingham State's best interest to keep the programs going. So we are in the process of no longer offering these programs.” She added, “We are trying to make sure that we do right by them. And even though it might not seem like closing a program would be in any student's favor, we're trying to make sure that we keep their interests close at heart.” Senior Sofia Wilson said, “International students are being bombarded by hateful rhetoric and even federally sponsored ICE attacks. So of course, there are students out there who may want to participate in the programs without actually traveling” to Framingham State. She added 175 students “may seem like a small number compared to the total population of FSU, but imagine 175 people standing around you and it becomes a much bigger, more realistic number.” Sophomore Marlín Polanco said she thinks “this decision will have a significant impact since online classes made education a lot more accessible and even more affordable for a lot of students.” She added, “I think this may cause some harm to some of these students.”