Mount Washington College Closing Portsmouth Campus

By Tony Schinella

Mount Washington College, the school formerly known as Hesser College, has decided to close campuses in Portsmouth and Concord, according to an e-mail to local students.

Dr. Gregory von Lehmen, the new provost for the school, said the changes were being made in order to ensure that students “receive the same quality of education and support that you have come to expect from” the school.

Students enrolled in classes in Concord and Portsmouth will be transferred to Manchester, Nashua, and Salem, and Kaplan University in South Portland, Maine.

“While it is our expectation that your day-to-day experience will not be significantly affected, every effort will be made to minimize the impact on you and others,” von Lehmen said in the email. “Our plan and focus is to help you reach your educational goals, complete your program and earn your degree. There is no reason to believe that you will not have the opportunity to graduate as planned.”

Students attending classes in Concord and Portsmouth will be allowed to continue through the end of the year, he said, adding that staff would be available for students in Concord and Portsmouth on from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Aug. 24, to help with the transition.

An open house will also be held at the Manchester campus from 9 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Sept. 10.

Hesser first opened as a business school in 1900 and has had a Concord campus since 1998, first on Hall Street and then later, on Foundry Street, off Exit 16 on I-93. Nearly 400 students were enrolled in the school two years ago, according to published reports. In recent years, the school has primarily focused on medical programs as well as criminal justice, business administration, communications, graphic design, and various associate degrees.

On July 1, Hesser College changed its name to Mount Washington College while von Lehmen was hired as provost on July 29.