The University of the Arts in Philadelphia announces sudden closure

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- The University of the Arts in Philadelphia will be closing next week.

With a history dating back nearly 150 years, the university will close for good on June 7, said President Kerry Walk Friday night in a letter obtained by Action News.

"We would have shared this news with you directly, but the Middle States Commission on Higher Education elected to withdraw UArts' accreditation and announce before we could communicate with you," the letter read.

The commission says that the university failed to inform it of the decision to shut down promptly or follow proper protocols.

The closure comes amid financial challenges and declining enrollment, according to Walk.

"Unfortunately, however, we could not overcome the ultimate challenge we faced: with a cash position that has steadily weakened, we could not cover significant, unanticipated expenses. The situation came to light very suddenly. Despite swift action, we were unable to bridge the necessary gaps," read the letter.

Ev Dowling, who would be a senior, says he, along with other students, faculty, and staff, are shocked to learn the news.

"I feel like I'm at the end of that stretch. Three years in, I was making plans for after graduation and now I need to make plans to graduate from somewhere else," said Dowling.

The university's website states there were about 1,300 students and 77 full-time faculty members in 2022.

"The staff and faculty have worked so hard. They really have given us all the best opportunities, and knowing that they're out of jobs while I'm out of school, it's the worst news ever," added Dowling.

Upcoming summer courses will be canceled and the university will not enroll a new class in the fall.

Students told Action News that they feel the abrupt closure is overwhelming.

"They just put up these new banners, literally like a month ago. Why?" questioned Kaylee Morris, a student at UArts.

She says she was blindsided by Friday's announcement.

"I had an internship lined up over the summer, I was going into my senior year, I was about to start working on my senior thesis, and I'm just shocked this is happening. There really weren't any signs," Morris said.

Staff were just as shocked as the students when receiving the news.

"I'm an alum and a staff member, so it sucks to lose my job. It also sucks to lose a magical community. One of the few art institutions left in the country," said a staff member who did not want to be identified.

He told Action News that he learned hours before the loss of the accreditation by the staff union group, but he wasn't led to believe the school would close.

"We had a huge recruitment push for fall of this year," he said.

The university says it will be helping current students by developing "seamless transfer pathways" to other Philadelphia schools, including Temple University, Drexel University, and Moore College of Art and Design.

For some students, however, this plan seems complicated.

"I'm a theater student. I can go to Temple's musical theater program but my roommate, she's an illustration major, and Temple and Drexel don't have her majors," noted UArts student Fern Morehouse.

"My major is film and animation, that doesn't really exist at other schools. That was part of the reason why I liked this school," added Morris.

On June 3, there will be a town hall for students, faculty, and staff. The university says it will send times and details over the weekend.

"I'm saddened by the news of University of the Arts' imminent plans to close," said Mayor Cherelle L. Parker in a statement sent to Action News.

"I've spoken with President Walk and with the University's board leadership. I will continue to convene conversations between university leaders and city, state, federal offices, and other stakeholders in the days ahead to determine what can be done to protect every student, faculty and staff member at University of the Arts, a crown jewel in our city's academic and cultural communities. Our City cares deeply about the future of every person who studies or works there," Parker continued.

You can read the full letter below from President Kerry Walk and Chair of the Board of Trustees Judson Aaron:

"Today is a heartbreaking day.

University of the Arts will close as of Friday June 7, 2024. We would have shared this news with you directly, but the Middle States Commission on Higher Education elected to withdraw UArts' accreditation and announce before we could communicate with you. We know that this makes hearing the news of UArts' abrupt closure even worse.

The closure means that we will be canceling our summer courses, we will not enroll a new class in the fall, and we will support our continuing students in their progress to degree by developing seamless transfer pathways to our partners: Temple University,

Drexel University, and Moore College of Art and Design, among others.

We know that the news of UArts' closure comes as a shock. Like you, we are struggling to make sense of the present moment. But like many institutions of higher learning, UArts has been in a fragile financial state, with many years of declining enrollments, declining revenues, and increasing expenses. We have worked hard this year alongside many of you to take steps that would secure the University's sustainability. The progress we made together has been impressive.

Unfortunately, however, we could not overcome the ultimate challenge we faced: with a cash position that has steadily weakened, we could not cover significant, unanticipated expenses. The situation came to light very suddenly. Despite swift action, we were unable to bridge the necessary gaps.

On Monday, June 3, 2024 we will host separate town hall meetings for students, faculty, and staff; we will send times and details for those town halls over the coming weekend. We are committed to providing a space for your questions and concerns.

We have done everything in our power to address this crisis and avoid the worst possible outcome: an abrupt closure. Yet we have reached this deeply painful outcome, which we know affects our entire community.

We are grateful for all you're doing to support one another during this most difficult time."