Bridgeport's South End is home to the University of Bridgeport. Image courtesy of Google Maps

Vermont’s Marlboro College says efforts to negotiate a merger with the University of Bridgeport have failed. The merger could have been a source of growth for the latter school.

Officials with Marlboro College said in a statement released Saturday that negotiations between the two schools were suspended.

The two schools in July announced that Marlboro College, with a student body of about 150, would become part of Bridgeport, which has about 5,000 students.

Marlboro said in a statement it was determined to protect its self-directed and self-governed academic model. Marlboro also sought assurances on Bridgeport’s commitment to the Vermont campus and guarantees that Marlboro’s sizable endowment would be maintained.

The Marlboro board of trustees is now planning to pursue other options for partnerships that are in the best interest of students, faculty and staff.

The proposed merger could have kicked off expansion work at the University of Bridgeport, and residential properties near the school have attracted attention in recent months from investors looking to convert them to student housing to house a growing student population.