UPDATE 3/16/18: Boston University is offering jobs to 87 faculty and staff from Wheelock College, but 111 others will lose their jobs ahead of the June merger.

Among those being retained are Wheelock's tenured faculty and the facilities crew, who will continue to maintain the school's buildings.

This story originally aired in November, 2017.

Facing dwindling enrollment, Wheelock College has agreed to merge with Boston University. The two schools will become one beginning June of next year.

Wheelock College's most popular program, Education and Human Development, will operate as a school within Boston University. All students currently enrolled at Wheelock will have the opportunity to complete their work at BU, New England’s largest private university.

BU will offer tenured Wheelock professors jobs, but non-tenured faculty will be considered on a case-by-by basis.

In a statement, Wheelock President David Chard says the merger was the best option for preserving the College's mission.

“I am pleased that we have reached this milestone,” Chard said. “[Boston University] President [Robert] Brown and I have discussed our intent to support Wheelock students and alumni during this transition and welcome them as part of the Boston University community.”

Following the merger, Chard will become interim Dean of the Wheelock College of Education and Human Development at BU.

This deal comes as mergers have become more common in higher education. Last year, Berklee and the Boston Conservatory joined forces and analysts predict we’ll see more mergers in New England, which has a lot of small colleges and a shrinking number of high school graduates.

Earlier: Berklee, Boston Conservatory Mix It Up and Merge