Resurrected: Funeral Service program gets new life

BRIDGEWATER — When Mount Ida College abruptly shut its doors last May, students in the Funeral Service program were left in the wake.

But thanks to a quick response from Cape Cod Community College, the program will soon have a new life on the campus of Bridgewater State University.

On Tuesday, March 12, the Massachusetts Board of Higher Education officially approved a new Associate in Science degree in Funeral Service at CCCC. Prospective students can now apply to the college, receive guaranteed acceptance for the program which starts in September, and identify Funeral Service as their designated major, according to a news release.

In a move to provide easier access to students across the region, the program and all classrooms and laboratories are housed entirely on the campus of Bridgewater State.

“We are proud to now be the only state college in Massachusetts approved by the Board of Higher Education to deliver this program,” said John L. Cox, president of Cape Cod Community College, in a statement. “Our College, and our future Funeral Service students, are deeply grateful to the Board for their support, and to the dedicated faculty and members of College leadership who helped get this program ready to launch.

"It is uncommon to see a program be developed and approved in less than a year, let alone an Associate Degree program housed on the campus of a four-year college. This approval is groundbreaking, and is a testament to their hard work," Cox said.

Funeral Service landed on the College’s radar following the sudden closing of Mount Ida College in May 2018, the release said. After Ida shut its doors, students in their Funeral Service program were displaced with no path to complete their degree program. CCCC responded quickly, building a teach-out program approved by the Department of Higher Education to serve the displaced students, and a lab-space at BSU where the students would be centrally located with access to on-campus housing.

The students began the CCCC teach-out in October and, in mid-January, five former Mount Ida students officially obtained their degrees as the first graduates from the Funeral Service program. During this time, CCCC began the process of developing a full Associate Degree program, officials said.

In the CCCC program, students will only be required to be on campus at BSU two days a week. "This provides a flexible schedule for working adults to balance work, life, and higher education," officials said.

They noted that the College is also providing a live streaming option, which will allow students to access classes even if they cannot be on campus. Students in the program will also have access to Bridgewater State’s on-campus amenities, including housing.

Over the next several months, the College will be seeking accreditation status with the American Board of Funeral Service Education as a new program.

For more information on the Funeral Service program and how to register for the fall semester, visit capecod.edu/funeralservice.