Worcester Business Journal

4 Worcester Business Journal | April 12, 2021 | wbjournal.com C E N T R A L M AS S I N B R I E F Aer Becker's closing, Clark to absorb game design, esports programs V E R BAT I M Teaming up with cannabis "With the rigors of playing a contact sport for so many years as our players have, it's essential to be open minded when it comes to recovery and treatment for not just your body but your mind as well." Jawad Yatim, founder and director of sponsorship sales for Worcester indoor football team Massachusetts Pirates, discussing a new sponsorship agreement with Worcester cannabis company Resinate Historic trade "We look forward to the completion of the new building and bringing back this historic trade to Old Sturbridge Village for many generations to come." Jim Donahue, president and CEO of Old Sturbridge Village, announcing the first new addition to the Village Common in more than 50 years, a cabinet-making shop Saying goodbye "This last year has been challenging for all, but it has also shown the resilience, commitment and energy of the entire campus." Javier Cevallos, the president of Framingham State University, announcing his retirement, which will be effective after the upcoming 2021-2022 school year B ecker College will stop operations at the close of the spring semester, but a few of its best known programs will live on through a Worcester neighbor, Clark University. Clark said March 29 – just hours aer Becker announced it would close permanently – it is starting the Becker School of Design & Technology at Clark University, which will include two celebrated elements of Becker's video game studies: game design and esports, along with integrated graphic design. Clark has separately reached an agreement with Becker to allow students in business, criminology and computer science to complete their degrees at Clark. "We proudly welcome Becker students to Clark University, and we're thrilled not only to continue 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 in a statement. Becker created the country's first esports management program and was the first college in Massachusetts to offer scholarships to varsity esports student-athletes. Last year, its undergraduate video game design program was rated No. 2 in America by e Princeton Review publication. For at least the upcoming academic year, Clark said it intends to keep those programs on the Becker campus. Becker BY GRANT WELKER Worcester Business Journal News Editor School of Design & Technology Dean Alan Ritacco and Associate Dean Paul Cotnoir will continue their leadership roles in the newly established school at Clark, as will faculty members, Clark said. Clark is one of a few Central Massachusetts colleges coming to the aid of Becker students. Assumption University, Fitchburg State University and Worcester Polytechnic Institute were among those issuing statements pledging support for Becker students. WPI said it has agreed to admit returning students in good academic standing within the interactive media programs, including game art, game design, game development and programming, game audio and game production and management. WPI said it has also proposed housing the Massachusetts Digital Games Institute, or MassDiGI, which has been based on the Becker campus. e neighboring colleges share game design programs renowned in the field, with both landing among the best such programs by the Princeton Review, and they've collaborated on programs and in co-hosting International Game Developers Association events. Quinsigamond Community College has an agreement in place to accept Becker students in associate degree programs in business administration, criminal justice, early childhood education and nursing education. "It is with a heavy heart that we learned of the impending closing of Becker College, one of the oldest institutions of higher education in our region. Becker has made a profound and lasting impression on our community and many QCC transfer students," QCC President Luis Pedraja said in a statement. PHOTO/COURTESY OF BECKER COLLEGE W Roughly 100 Becker College students participate in esports clubs.

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