Soka University of America began exclusive negotiations to acquire the Middlebury Institute of International Studies’ graduate campus in California, aiming to expand graduate programs and maintain key subject areas as Middlebury sunsets remaining programs. SUA said both boards approved a letter of intent and the organizations are conducting due diligence on an undisclosed price. The proposed deal would expand SUA’s graduate offerings and create a second campus in Monterey, with a planned renaming to “Monterey Institute of International Studies at Soka University of America.” Middlebury leaders previously moved to wind down in-person programs and two online programs in Monterey, with remaining online programs scheduled to sunset in summer 2027. Under the acquisition framework, SUA is also seeking rights to continue a portion of Middlebury Institute’s programs, including nonproliferation studies, threat intelligence, and international policy and development. The negotiations reflect a broader “teach-out and takeover” dynamic in graduate education, where institutions restructure program delivery and others step in to preserve workforce-relevant offerings.