Simmons University’s School of Library and Information Science (SLIS) West program, the part-time Master of Science in Library and Information Science, has settled into its new home at Greenfield Community College (GCC), following a strategic relocation aimed at expanding access, lowering costs, and addressing transportation concerns.
Simmons University announced that SLIS West, originally located at Mount Holyoke College, moved to Greenfield in 2024. Eric Poulin, director of the SLIS West Program, explained the move was intended to address student concerns regarding transportation and costs. “It was a strategic move in hopes of increasing enrollment,” Poulin said, describing the timing and location as ideal.
In a follow-up email, Poulin shared that starting in Spring 2026, additional tuition benefits will be introduced. GCC employees who begin a degree-seeking program in the SLIS will receive a minimum 20% discount on tuition. The same benefit will be extended to public and academic library staff in Berkshire, Hampden, Hampshire, and Franklin counties. Members of the Western Massachusetts Library Advocates (WMLA) will receive a 25% discount on two non-degree or pre-matriculated courses.
According to Poulin, a portion of SLIS West students commute from across the region, like southern New Hampshire and Vermont, to attend in-person classes held on Thursday evenings and Saturdays.
The new campus, located at the intersection of Interstate 91 and Route 2, offers an easier drive than Mount Holyoke. The move also helped reduce costs by sharing the space with an existing institution, rather than having a separate facility. During the transitional year, Poulin said students received a $150 stipend per semester to help offset transportation costs.
“The move of SLIS West…was made to place the SLIS MS LIS program in closer proximity to the rural and small-town libraries of western Massachusetts,” said Sanda Erdelez, Dean of the School of Library and Information Science, in a statement. “GCC provided a setting that better connected our students with the communities they aim to serve, while also strengthening Simmons’ role in preparing library professionals to meet the needs of rural and underserved populations.”
One student expressed positive feedback. Nebraska Chatham, a third-year master’s student in the SLIS West program, said the move was a change for the better and only had one adjustment. They noted that both campuses offer useful resources like computer labs and meeting spaces. However, at GGC course reserves are only accessible during library hours, which don’t always align with class times, whereas Mount Holyoke’s are available more often.
Chatham’s commute increased from 10 to 40 minutes, but they said the stipend helped with the costs. “I don’t have any regrets,” they added.
The program ensured that students maintain access to both Simmons’ Beatley Library and the GCC library, with the option to have materials mailed to them, according to Poulin.
Poulin foresees the program staying at GCC long-term. He said enrollment has increased since the relocation and anticipates continued growth, especially with the tuition discounts. “It was a strategic move for the long-term health of the campus,” he said.
He emphasized that the program’s goal is to become an essential part of the library and information landscape in Western Massachusetts.
As SLIS West continues to grow, both students and faculty view the relocation as a commitment to providing accessible and community-centered education in Western Massachusetts.
