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Statement Regarding the Establishment of the Becker School of Design & Technology at Clark University

As a neighbor to Becker College for over 100 years, Clark University sincerely regrets that the college has had to make the painful decision to close. Becker has occupied a distinguished place in the higher education landscape, especially here in Worcester. We know this is an extremely difficult time for Becker’s students, faculty, staff, and alumni and that the closure is a loss for our region. Clark stands ready to support the Becker community as it moves through this challenging transition.

To that end, we are pleased to announce the establishment of the Becker School of Design & Technology at Clark University, allowing one of Becker College’s most renowned programs to remain within the city. Dean Alan Ritacco, Associate Dean Paul Cotnoir, and many of their fellow faculty members will be joining our academic enterprise and retaining most of the curriculum offerings at the current School of Design & Technology. This will provide a seamless path forward for Becker students in these program areas and a continuation of the outstanding, innovative leadership at the school.

This new Becker School of Design & Technology at Clark will enable students to continue, or to embark on, leading-edge studies in its nationally ranked Interactive Media Design (Game Design) program and associated concentrations at both the undergraduate and graduate (MFA) levels, as well as in Esports Management and Integrated Graphic Design. Becker students in Business, Criminology, and Computer Science also will have pathways at Clark to complete their degrees.

Clark chose the name the Becker School of Design & Technology to honor and sustain the great history and tradition of Becker College.

Clark will offer a unique opportunity for Becker students at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. Clark’s recognized excellence in interdisciplinary liberal arts and its array of highly respected graduate programs will complement and enrich the school’s curriculum and generate new opportunities for Clark students, as well.

“We proudly welcome Becker students to Clark University, and we’re thrilled not only to nurture these signature Becker programs, which are already among some of the best in the world, but also to expand them and broaden their scope,” Clark President David Fithian said. “By merging Becker’s strengths in these dynamic areas with the heft of a Clark liberal arts education, we’re creating an amplified and energized academic experience that uniquely equips our students to confront challenges on a global scale and embrace emerging opportunities in the 21st-century economy. This is a perfect fit.”

Students studying in the Becker School of Design & Technology at Clark will benefit from a combined curriculum that represents some of the best of Clark and Becker. Clark’s fast-growing Media, Culture, and the Arts major, its Screen Studies program, advanced degrees in areas like marketing analytics, data analytics, and project management, and new graduate credentials in computer science and biotechnology present exciting synergies with the Becker School of Design & Technology’s in-demand and market-aligned programs, including game development and esports management.

Fithian added that the Becker School of Design & Technology at Clark also is exploring expansion opportunities for research and teaching related to machine learning and artificial intelligence.

Clark has streamlined the application and transfer process to make it as easy as possible for Becker students who are exploring ways to continue their education.

Becker students can learn more about the process for transferring to Clark University.