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Diving summary:
- Notre Dame College in Ohio will close at the end of the spring 2024 semester, the administration announced Thursday.
- Roman Catholic college officials had met with Cleveland State University administrators in recent months to explore a merger or acquisition, but were ultimately unsuccessful.
- Notre Dame said the closure was related to declining enrollment and a shrinking traditional-age student pool, as well as rising costs and significant debt.
Diving information:
From 2014 to 2022, total fall enrollment at Notre Dame decreased nearly 37%, from 2,281 students to 1,444, according to federal data.
University officials said they made many efforts to stay open, including fundraising, refinancing debt and taking advantage of federal and state pandemic aid. But the efforts were not enough to close budget gaps and meet debt obligations, they said.
“We are all saddened by the need to make this decision, but please be assured that as we move forward, we are doing everything we can to ensure a smooth transition for our students to continue their education.” John Smetanka, interim president of Notre Dame, said in a statement.
At least four public and nonprofit universities in Ohio have closed since 2018, and Notre Dame will become one more. At least 20 institutions closures or consolidations announced in 2023including several religiously affiliated universities.
Two other Roman Catholic institutions: the school of santa rosa, in New York, and Magdalen College of the Liberal Arts, in New Hampshire, announced pending closures late last year. Both institutions had also struggled with enrollment, and the College of Saint Rose had projected a cash deficit of $11.3 million.
According to a frequently asked question, Notre Dame College has arranged for students to continue their studies by teaching with 10 other institutions. Most are in Ohio institutions: Baldwin Wallace University, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland State University, Hiram College, John Carroll University, Kent State University, Lake Erie College, Ursuline College and Walsh University. It also established an agreement with Mercyhurst University, about 95 miles northeast of Pennsylvania.
In an announcement Thursday, Mercyhurst said the teaching agreement will allow Notre Dame College students to finish their credentials without losing time or credits.
“The goal of both institutions is to meet the distinct and diverse needs of Notre Dame students and ensure the best possible outcome for all stakeholders,” said Michael Joseph, interim vice president of enrollment at Mercyhurst. in a sentence.
Notre Dame students who transfer to partner institutions can expect to pay the same net tuition costs. and graduate on time, according to frequently asked questions. The university said it is still negotiating tuition with additional institutions.
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