Their mistake was to try and teach engineering to women. The school had a highly respectable MRS program. It’s too bad they tried to distance themselves from it.
Well, an Mrs. degree only has value if men and women want to get married. More and more they don't. Or, they get married so late that by the time they do the woman is an independent earner. And if she does just want a man, eHarmony is cheaper, faster, and she doesn't have to leave the city.
I'm going to assume you are not referring to the old-time traditional Mrs. degree that lured women to college lo those many years ago...