MIIS and Soka University of America
The following message was sent to the Middlebury campus community on May 11.
Dear Middlebury Community,
We are writing with an important update about the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey. Over the past several months, we have been in conversation with Soka University of America (SUA), and we are pleased to share that we have entered into exclusive negotiations with SUA for their potential purchase of the MIIS campus in Monterey. The Middlebury and SUA Boards of Trustees have authorized moving forward, and the two institutions will now enter a period of due diligence to finalize the details to ensure a smooth transition.
SUA is announcing this news to their community this afternoon. See their full announcement here.
As part of the agreement, SUA will assume ownership of the Monterey campus real estate and begin administering select programs that they wish to continue under SUA’s purview using the name the Monterey Institute of International Studies at Soka University of America. SUA plans to continue programs in nonproliferation studies and threat intelligence; translation and localization management; and international policy and development/global governance. Over the next several weeks, SUA will assess their needs for these programs in more detail, and will provide more information as it becomes available.
Our Commitment
Importantly, we want to emphasize that Middlebury remains committed to teaching out our degree programs on the Monterey campus through summer 2027—and to awarding Middlebury degrees to students who complete those programs—as we have previously announced. We will honor the commitments we have made to our students, faculty, and staff. We also have been in touch with our accreditors, city officials in Monterey, and other partners about our plans and will work closely with all of them to fulfill our obligations to our community.
MIIS Town Hall Meeting Thursday
We know that this news will raise important questions on its short- and long-term practical implications, particularly for students, staff, and faculty at the Institute. To address those questions, we will be inviting MIIS faculty, staff, and students to gather with Executive Vice President and Provost Michelle McCauley, Vice President and Dean of the Institute Jeff Dayton-Johnson, and General Counsel Hannah Ross, at a Town Hall meeting on Thursday, May 14. We will share details about the meeting time and location soon.
Continuity of Purpose
After being approached by SUA—an institution closely aligned with the mission and values of MIIS—we are pleased that under SUA’s purview some of the Institute’s programs will continue to be housed on the educational campus in Monterey. We are also pleased that SUA plans to honor MIIS’s history by using the name the “Monterey Institute of International Studies at Soka University of America.”
About Soka University
MIIS and SUA first collaborated three years ago to give SUA’s undergraduates accelerated pathways into MIIS’s master’s programs. At that time, both of our institutions recognized and celebrated the alignment of our missions.
SUA President Ed Feasel shared today that Soka is pursuing the purchase “because we believe SUA can carry these programs forward to advance our shared mission,” adding “If completed, this agreement would expand SUA’s graduate program offerings while establishing a second campus in Monterey under the name Monterey Institute of International Studies at Soka University of America, focusing on programs in nonproliferation and terrorism studies, threat intelligence, international policy and development/global governance, and translation and localization management,” Feasel wrote to the SUA community.
We are pleased that this transaction will enable certain MIIS programs to continue their legacy of making a difference in the world. As has been the case since MIIS merged into Middlebury, its alumni remain valued members of the powerful network that comprises Middlebury. This announcement and a brief FAQ can be found at Midd Stories.
Sincerely,
Ian B. Baucom
President
With:
Michelle McCauley
Executive Vice President and Provost
David Provost
Executive Vice President for Finance and Administration
Jeff Dayton-Johnson
Vice President of Academic Affairs and Dean of the Institute
FAQ
What is the timeline? What programs are being transferred to Soka?
In the coming weeks, both Middlebury and SUA will complete a period of due diligence where we will finalize details to ensure a smooth transition. As part of the agreement, SUA will assume ownership of the Monterey campus real estate and begin administering select programs under the name Monterey Institute of International Studies at Soka University of America. SUA plans to continue programs in nonproliferation studies and threat intelligence; translation (and) localization management; and international policy and development/global governance. Over the next several weeks, SUA will assess needs for these programs, and will provide more information as it becomes available.
Will MIIS alumni continue to receive career counseling and be included in alumni events?
Yes. MIIS alumni will always be part of the Middlebury alumni community and will continue to have lifelong access to records (transcripts and diplomas), career services, communications, and alumni events. More details on how those services will be organized post-teach-out will be shared as we approach summer 2027.
Is anything changing with the Centers?
As previously announced, Middlebury’s James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies (CNS) will continue to operate under the greater Middlebury umbrella in multiple locations including Monterey; Washington, D.C.; Middlebury, Vermont; and Vienna, Austria. Middlebury will retain our affiliations with the Center for the Blue Economy and the Center for Terrorism, Extremism and Counterterrorism through summer 2027.
Is anything changing with online programs?
As previously announced, online master’s degree programs in Cybersecurity, Localization Project Management, Master’s in Public Administration in Sustainability, and Organizational Leadership also will continue through the completion of degrees in summer 2027.
When will SUA begin recruiting?
SUA expects to begin recruiting new students this summer, with timing dependent on staffing and program planning.