Women from the group organized a religious congregation, the Sisters of St. Francis of Assisi. The Franciscan liberal arts college has been a part of the greater Milwaukee community for the past 86 years. The school has been around for nearly 100. It also attracted a number of international students. That ended Monday evening. "For anyone to suggest we played a role in the universitys downfall is misguided.". College closures are fairly rare. Its a noble mission and a challenging business model., In recent months, several other colleges with a religious affiliation have announced plans to close, including Iowa Wesleyan University, Presentation College, Finlandia University, Holy Names University and Living Arts College. Dr. Scholz says faculty and staff will be offered an employee assistance program and the university will "work closely with them on employment matters.". Cardinal Stritch Catholic High School & Academy is a family of faith, knowledge, and strength that forms . Please call 414-410-4000 or email communications@stritch.edu for assistance. Here's what you need to know about the history of the school. The archbishop served Milwaukee from 1930 to 1939, then was assigned as archbishop to Chicago. On April 10th, Cardinal Stritch University president Dr. Dan Scholz announced the school would close at the end of the semester. "Right now I'm just like, okay, now what am I supposed to do? Will Stritch hold a commencement this spring? "I wish there was a different path we could . Academic services will be provided this summer to a limited number of students so they can reach their graduation requirements. All visitors must enter the campus and register at the Bonaventure Hall Welcome Desk. The last graduation ceremony will be held on May 21. The last graduation ceremony will be held on May 21. Dr. Scholz noted fiscal realities, a downward enrollment trend, the pandemic, and the need for more resources for the shutdown, calling it a "no-win situation.". And he said an employee assistance program will work with faculty and staff on employment matters. The university will host its last commencement ceremony on May 21 at 10 a.m. at the Wisconsin Center. We are all devastated by this development, but after examining all options this decision was necessary," Scholz said. I mean, you see it everywhere We don't know where we're going, we don't know what we're doing and we wish we had known earlier," adds Spies. The office is responsible for exploring how the school engages its Catholic, Franciscan identity in all facets with programming for students, staff and faculty. 2023 www.jsonline.com. Limited Summer term classes will be in session through August 20. Access to campus buildings will be restricted. FOX POINT, Wis. (AP) Cardinal Stritch University, a Catholic liberal arts college, is closing, a year after celebrating its 85th anniversary. Cardinal Stritch University is closing its doors for good at the end of spring semester, a casualty of the demographic and financial forces haunting most every other higher education. Report a typo or error // Submit a news tip. 27. . Jakobsson said he had considered transferring to a different university and even submitted an application, but he was leaning toward staying at Cardinal Stritch next year. When I first heard the news of Cardinal Stritch University closing its. For more than 90 years, WTMJ-AM has been "Wisconsin's Radio Station". Cardinal Stritch University, a Catholic liberal arts college, is closing, a year after celebrating its 85th anniversary. "And that was the goal of this formation was to make sure that the legacy of our Sisters remained.". The school enrolled more than 6,000 students in the year before the Great Recession hit in December 2007. 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Cardinal Stritch University: 5 facts about closing Milwaukee school. "I do think that situations like this, especially here, its an issue of justice because we are serving a population that does not get served otherwise both through who our students are and through who our students serve when they leave this place," she explains. "I wish there was a different path we could pursue," President Dan Scholz said in a video Monday. Commencement will still be celebrated at the Wisconsin Center this spring. more, Cardinal Stritch students react to the school's sudden closing. Dr. Scholz said financial struggles, declining enrollment, and the need for more resources as reasons for the shutdown. First published on April 11, 2023 / 2:58 PM. Scholzs message echoed many of the statements released by other colleges that have recently announced plans to close, hitting such common themes as financial strain, declining enrollment and the COVID-19 pandemic. In 1970, men were allowed to enroll for the first time, and in 1997, the school became Cardinal Stritch University by offering its first doctorate program, in Leadership for the Advancement of Learning and Service. On its website, the school offered a wide range of clubs, from community building to social activism to leadership. MILWAUKEE Cardinal Stritch University is closing permanently effective May 22, President Dr. Dan Scholz announced Monday. All rights reserved. Apply Now. She says staff received an email for an urgent, emergency Zoom meeting about an hour before it was shared more widely. They see what could be and then they strengthen that in a person.. Dawn Wankowski, an assistant professor in biology at Cardinal Stritch, hugged and consoled students Tuesday morning. Asked what the loss meant to Fox Point, Village Manager Scott Botcher sounded optimistic about finding a new use for the 40-acre campus. Cardinal Stritch University is closing permanently effective May 22, President Dr. Dan Scholz announced Monday. Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. But filling seats is much more difficult for institutions these days. Staff are processing requests for transcripts and bill payments and facilitating payment collection, in addition to fulfilling other responsibilities related to the wind down. Enrollment had dropped to 1,400 in 2021 compared to 2,400 in 2018, according to federal data cited by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Learn More. Now Cabrini will join the ranks of other colleges that have announced closures this year, including Medaille University, Cardinal Stritch University, Presentation College, Holy Names University, Iowa Wesleyan University, Finlandia University and various for-profit institutions. Faculty/Staff . Copyright 2023 TheAssociated Press. He said all programs would end by May 22, 2023. "Every [exchange student] was talking with their parents and just crying," said Sastre. University trustees recommended closure to the Sisters, and they accepted it, Scholz said. Cardinal Stritch University's ranking in the 2022-2023 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, #331-440. There are more than 40,000 alumni. Its parent institute, Cardinal Stritch University, is still active and serves students.You may want to check the accurate closing information by checking the page and contacting the school. About 70% of the school's alumni base lives in Wisconsin, according to school data. Chuck Quirmbach joined WUWM in August 2018. The university was known as St. Clare College when it was started in Milwaukee in 1937 by the Sisters of St. Francis of Assisi. I wish there was a different path we could pursue," President Dan Scholz said in a video Monday. Kellner co-chairs the Board of Trustees. Botcher and Glendale Mayor Bryan Kennedy said they learned about the closure Monday. She said the schools closure would be keenly felt among people of color. University officials declined to answer questions from Inside Higher Ed. Cardinal Stritch University will close at the end of the academic year, the school announced Monday evening. Cardinal Stritch University students were stunned Monday evening when an email hit their inboxes with a link to the school's president informing them via video of the campus' closure at the end. While 27percent of presidents surveyed said their college should consider a merger within the next five years, most were positive about their institutions financial state, with nearly eight in 10 respondents indicating they believe their college will be financially stable over the next decade. Effective Monday, May 22, 2023, Cardinal Stritch University is winding down operations. Enrollment was a key factor. One way the university has maintained focus on its mission is by maintaining an Office of Mission Integration. Please check back often for the latest news. Tax filings show Cardinal Stritch operated in the red for seven of the last eight years, with losses ranging from roughly half a million dollars to $9.2 million. Sara Woelfel / Cardinal Stritch University / Instagram On Monday evening, Cardinal Stritch University announced that its 85-plus years of educational services will soon come to an end. All rights reserved. At this university, I would say everyone has such a familiar relationship to everyone.. Nearly 2,400 students were enrolled in 2018-19, but that dropped to 1,400 by fall 2021, according to federal education data. Stritch is one of 23 members of the Wisconsin Association of Independent Colleges and Universities, which last week asked state lawmakers for a bigger increase in a student grant program than Wisconsin Gov. Cardinal Stritch part of national trend of universities, colleges closing down Cardinal Stritch isn't alone. The University's official closing date has not been announced. MILWAUKEE Cardinal Stritch University is closing permanently effective May 22, President Dr. Dan Scholz announced Monday. Now the institution is poised to cease operations in late May, following commencement, and is developing transfer pathways to help current students enroll elsewhere. New students who are yet to enroll will be helped to transition to another school. The school cut expenses from $70 million in fiscal year 2013 to $43 million in fiscal year 2020, which is the latest publicly available tax data. The last graduation ceremony will be held on May 21. However, publicly available tax documents show the university has been running at a financial deficit for roughly a decade, which coincides with the enrollment decline that precipitated the closure. 2023 Milwaukee Public Media is a service of UW-Milwaukee's College of Letters & Science. The universitys most recent financial composite score from the Department of Education was 2.2, above the 1.5 threshold that indicates financial responsibility on the 1.0 to 3.0 scale. He focuses his longform stories on health, innovation, science, technology, transportation, utilities and business. Access to campus buildings will be restricted. Stritchs impact on SE Wisconsin and the world is far deeper than many know. And some institutions are clinging to life amid ongoing business issues, such as The Kings College and Birmingham-Southern College, both of which have announced serious financial concerns that may lead to eventual closure if not immediately addressed. Please call 414-410-4000 or email. By the time Scholz was installed as president in 2021, many of the problems were irreversible, the source said: I believe his heart was always in the right place, but he inherited quite a mess.. Its tuition and fees are $35,444. Spies found out about the school closing the same day as the students, alumni and wider public. The news was sudden for them, too. Cardinal Stritch University is closing its doors for good at the end of spring semester, a casualty of the demographic and financial forces haunting most every other higher education institution in Wisconsin. Students comfort each other on the Cardinal Stritch campus. 2:24 Cardinal Stritch University has billed itself as one of the largest Franciscan institutions of higher education in North America. Cardinal Stritch was founded in 1937 and celebrated its 85th anniversary last July. Cardinal Stritch University President Dan Schulz announces closure. University closing in May. "So yes, we saw some signs and of course we knew the enrollment had declined. Cardinal Stritch celebrated its 85th anniversary last summer. President Dr. Dan Scholz said in a video release sent out onMonday April 10 that the Sisters of St. Francis of Assisi has accepted the recognition of the University Board of Trustees to suspend and cancel all education services, activities, and programs, effective May 22, 2023, and begin the wind-down process of the university operations after the current spring semester.. Cardinal Stritch University plans to close its doors at the end of the spring semester after more than 85 years. In his announcement video posted to YouTube, President Scholz explained.