Ursuline College and Gannon University announce planned partnership

Ursuline College and Gannon University have recently signed a Letter of Intent to pursue a strategic partnership that will allow the two to enter into a unified Catholic university system comprising the institutions’ combined 6,000 students and 1,300 employees.

According to an article on Ursuline College’s website, Dr. David King, the president of Ursuline College, shared his thoughts about the partnership. He is quoted as saying, “This collaboration leverages the academic and geographic strengths of both partners to create a more dynamic educational experience. The landscape in higher education, particularly private liberal arts schools, is changing rapidly. Our leadership has taken a proactive approach to embark on a new path that educates our students for generations to come and preserves our traditions and mission.”

If approved, the partnership would bring together the current populations of each institution and create three campuses, one each in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Florida, in turn creating the region's largest Catholic university system. The Ursuline Sisters must approve the agreement before the plans can be put into motion, because Ursuline College acts as a ministry of the Sisters. Each of the involved institutions would benefit from the arrangements, as Gannon University has been seeking to expand, Ursuline College has wanted to join forces with a larger institution, and the Ursuline Sisters have been seeking to preserve their legacy.

Sister Laura Bregar, the president of the Ursuline Sisters of Cleveland, said of the proposed partnership, “We believe this is the best way to extend the life of the college and continue Ursuline’s legacy so that it can continue to educate students in the Catholic tradition, as it has done for more than 150 years.”

What comes next is a long road of due diligence, investigations, and seeking regulatory approvals. In the meantime, both institutions have stressed that nothing will change for students or employees as progress is being made toward a Definitive Agreement. The whole process could take up to a year and a half. 

“This is a proactive effort by two faith-based institutions to take advantage of our respective strengths. We believe we are creating something special that addresses long-term sustainability and has the ability to transform Catholic higher education in the region,” said Dr. Walter Iwanenko Jr., the president of Gannon University.

For more information about Ursuline College, visit the school’s website.