Universities help students find a new home
SYLVANIA – Lourdes University was founded in 1958, and over its 68 years, it has offered students a small, close-knit educational community.
Students had their worlds turned upside down on Wednesday, Feb. 11, when the university’s Board of Trustees announced in a press release that it would be closing as a result of “financial pressures driven by declining enrollment, rising costs, and a funding model that is increasingly unsustainable.”
University of Toledo commits to students
For students who still need to graduate, their biggest challenge is finding a new college. Fortunately for them, the University of Toledo has stepped up as the primary teach-out partner for Lourdes. This means that all students in good standing who are interested in transferring to Toledo will automatically be admitted to a program aligned with their major.
A teach-out agreement allows students to easily transfer credits and financial aid. Students will be placed in the same program or one that is closely aligned with their major. The agreement ensures that all of a student’s credits will transfer to the university. A teach-out agreement is designed to reduce the headache of transferring schools and to save students money.
Dr. Mitchell S. McKinney, provost and executive vice president of academic affairs at the University of Toledo, said the university did not hesitate to partner with Lourdes.
“Before we saw the numbers per academic program, we immediately agreed and said yes. We will provide an academic home for their students who wish to transfer.”
McKinney clarified that UToledo will be able to take all students at Lourdes who wish to transfer. This is because the approximately 400 undergraduates are spread out among about two dozen undergraduate programs, with some of those programs containing single-digit numbers of enrolled students. He also said the university will hire more faculty if needed.
According to McKinney, one of the biggest concerns coming from students is the difference in size between UToledo and Lourdes.
He said within specific majors, UToledo has “intimate, smaller learning communities that one can be a part of. And so if there is a concern like, ‘Oh, this is a much larger university, a big campus,’ we want to make that experience for Lourdes students to meet their needs so that they understand that they can become part of this campus environment.’” He also added, “Our course sizes are not dissimilar to what the students experience at Lourdes.”
McKinney’s advice to students making the transition is to take advantage of the opportunities offered at UToledo. The university is less than 10 miles away from Lourdes and offers the ability to work with staff in a research lab, mentoring for study abroad experiences, experiential learning, and applied learning.
He also said that the university acknowledges that Lourdes students are going through a major disruption they have no control over, and they want to be as accommodating as possible.
Marietta College Offers Transfer Pathway to Lourdes Students
The University of Toledo is not the only place that Lourdes students can transfer to. Marietta College announced in a press release on March 12 that it will offer a transfer pathway for its students, including guaranteed admission criteria, personalized advising, and expanded financial aid opportunities to support timely degree completion.
According to the release, Marietta College will offer guaranteed admission to Lourdes students with a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 2.75 or higher and a letter of good standing from their institution. Admission and academic teams will work individually with each student to evaluate transcripts, optimize transferable credits, and develop personalized plans that help students remain on track to graduate.
Lourdes students will receive the Marietta Promise Award, which will cover tuition and mandatory fees remaining after all federal, state, and institutional aid has been applied. While typically reserved for first-time freshmen, the college will waive that requirement for qualifying Lourdes students. The award is renewable for up to eight semesters for those who remain eligible and in good academic standing.
“Our goal with this partnership is to provide Lourdes’ students with stability, thoughtful advising, and a community that will help them continue the progress they’ve already made,” said Heidi Terry, vice president for enrollment management, in the March press release.
Along with UToledo and Marietta College, there are several more options for students to transfer to. A full list of teach-out and transfer options, along with other helpful resources, is available on Lourdes’ closure page.
