DEI killed the college. Tell the fucking truth.

SOUTH EUCLID, Ohio � After months of speculation, Notre Dame
College will be closing its doors at the end of this semester,
ending a more than 100-year presence in South Euclid.

�We are all saddened by the need to make this decision, but rest
assured that as we move forward, we are doing everything we can
to ensure a smooth transition for our students to continue their
education,� said Notre Dame College Interim President John
Smetanka in a statement.

What's next for NDC students?
In a release, Notre Dame College announced that it has secured
agreements with nine partner colleges and universities to help
current students in good standing continue their college careers
through a "Teach-Out program" or as a transfer student. The nine
partner colleges and universities are:

Baldwin Wallace University
Cleveland State University
Hiram College
John Carroll University
Kent State University
Lake Erie College
Ursuline College
Walsh University
Mercyhurst University (Erie, PA)

NDC says current students in good standing with at least 60
completed credits will receive guaranteed admission to pursue
their degrees uninterrupted at a partner institution, with
comparable net tuition and transfer of all credits. Meanwhile,
current NDC students in good standing with less than 60
completed credits "may have the opportunity to transfer to a
partner institution and receive the same benefits of the Teach-
Out Program."

Notre Dame College plans to host a Partner College/University
Fair on Wednesday, March 13 from 12:30 p.m.-5:00 p.m. in Keller
Gymnasium. Officials "will work one-on-one with students to help
them determine their best path forward."

Walsh University in North Canton was the first to announce that
it will be offering "automatic acceptance and financial package
matching" to all undergraduate students of Notre Dame College
following the news of its impending closure. Walsh Vice
President of Enrollment Management Rebecca Coneglio wrote the
following in a release by the university.

"We understand that this is an anxious time for you and want to
reassure you that Walsh University is prepared to accept you
into our campus community with as little impact on your budget
and timeline as possible. We are offering automatic acceptance
and financial package matching to all Notre Dame undergraduate
students. Additionally, our counselors are standing by to guide
you through your course mapping to ensure you continue on your
path towards graduation as you have planned. Our coaches will
help you navigate and explore our NCAA Division II athletic
programs, and our residence life professionals will be here to
accommodate your living arrangements. Our goal is to make this
transition for you as easy and smooth as possible. Don�t
hesitate to reach out to me directly, should you have any
questions."

NDC students can click here for more information about a
transition to Walsh University.

Hiram College says "all Notre Dame students will be guaranteed
admission to Hiram College with no application fee."
Additionally, Hiram say it will provide "100% transfer of all
credits granted or accepted as transfer by Notre Dame towards an
equal or comparable degree program, and the net cost to complete
courses and other requirements to graduate will cost the same or
less than what the student would pay at Notre Dame."

Click here for information and contacts if you are an NDC
student interested in transferring to Hiram.

Ursuline College in nearby Pepper Pike says it is collaborating
with Notre Dame College to enable students to complete their
programs without major disruption. �We�re developing plans to
accommodate the academic, financial and emotional needs of NDC
students using our recent experience with Chamberlain College of
Nursing closing its Cleveland branch as our guide,� said Kathryn
LaFontana, Ph.D., Ursuline provost and vice president for
academic affairs.

Notre Dame College students are welcome to attend the Ursuline
College Open House on Saturday, March 2. Click here for more
information.

John Carroll University, also near South Euclid, said in a
statement that it is "committed" to securing the future of NDC
students as college graduates.

"We are deeply saddened by Notre Dame College�s announcement of
their upcoming closure. Our deepest condolences are with all who
love this institution, which has served a mission of Catholic
higher education in our community for more than a century.

"We have entered into an agreement with NDC to serve as a teach-
out partner. For all students who qualify, John Carroll
University is standing by to offer automatic admission, no lost
credit, and net price matching.

"As you know, a shuttle bus is already running each and every
day between the NDC and JCU campuses, allowing NDC students to
easily access JCU as they explore a transition to this
community. Our goal is to offer you a personalized transition to
JCU with as little disruption as possible to your remaining days
at NDC.

"Additional details will be coming in the following days, but
we can make one simple promise to NDC students right now: we�re
committed to securing your future as a college graduate,
welcoming you into JCU�s phenomenal network of conscientious
students, faculty, staff and alumni, and doing everything in our
power to make your transition seamless."

NDC says it will also offer HR support to all faculty and staff
to support them with their career transition.

Notre Dame College first opened its doors in 1922 as a women's
college. The college became coeducational in 2001.

"The Board of Trustees is profoundly grateful to Notre Dame
College students for their endurance; to school leadership,
faculty and staff for their loyal service and commitment; and to
the many friends, donors, and partners who have so generously
supported this very special institution, allowing the college to
fulfill its mission for over 100 years. Notre Dame College�s
impact and legacy will live on through the contributions of its
more than 5,000 alumni and all members of our college community,
past and present," NDC added in its release.

Why is NDC closing?
In its release, Notre Dame College stated that "like many small
higher education institutions across the country, NDC has faced
long-standing challenges related to declining enrollment, a
shrinking pool of college-aged students, rising costs and
significant debt." 3News has since learned that debt exceeded
$10 million.

�Throughout this long process, we evaluated every possible
option to continue the mission of Notre Dame College," said
Terri Bradford Eason, chair of the Board of Trustees of Notre
Dame College. �Our primary focus has been to ensure our students
can successfully continue their education, graduate, and � in
the tradition of the Sisters of Notre Dame � live a life of
personal, professional and global responsibility.�

Concerns about the future of the college first surfaced last
November, when Notre Dame College President Dr. J. Michael
Pressimone "voluntarily" resigned to pursue other opportunities.
Amid concerns that the resignation was indicative of an insecure
future at Notre Dame College, the school gave the below
statement to 3News:

"It is important to acknowledge the challenges that colleges and
universities across the country are facing. Notre Dame College
is not exempt from these challenges, which include a shrinking
pool of college-aged students and growing costs. In response to
these challenges, we have been engaged in strategic planning and
thoughtful discussions with our stakeholders regarding our
future. We want to assure you that our primary focus remains on
our mission, which we have upheld for the past 100 years, and on
serving our students in the best way possible. We expect to have
more information to share by the end of this academic year."

Last month, Cleveland State University officials confirmed to
3News that leaders from CSU and Notre Dame College met on
several occasions last fall to discuss Cleveland State
potentially absorbing the struggling Roman Catholic school. The
story was first reported by Amy Morona of Signal Cleveland.

On Feb. 16, Smetanka and Bradford Eason wrote the following
letter to the college's community:

"Notre Dame College (NDC), with its rich history and commitment
to academic excellence, has been a cornerstone of our community
for more than 100 years. However, as we have shared, like many
higher education institutions across the country, NDC has
experienced challenges due to higher costs and a shrinking pool
of college-aged students.

"These circumstances prompted a strategic planning process that
has been underway for several months. Driving our planning
efforts is our unwavering commitment to ensuring our students
have access to a high-quality education.

"We have evaluated various options and partnership
opportunities. Our work is ongoing and will lead to a final
decision soon.

"We know this period of uncertainty can be unsettling. While
specifics are still under development, we want to reassure
students that our goal is to enable each student to successfully
complete their degree in a timely manner.

"We will reach out directly to you in the near future to share
the results of our planning efforts and details regarding the
future of NDC. Thank you for your continued patience and
support."

Reactions from students and staff
Lisa Mobley, a biology lab technician at the college, spoke with
3News shortly after she and other employees learned of the
closure.

"It's more painful than just, you know, I don't have a
paycheck," she said. "At this point, it's hard to leave this
place."

Over the years, Notre Dame has become known for being rich in
athletics and bringing many student-athletes to South Euclid,
such as cheerleading transfer Sarah Walkuski.

"I started crying, because I made a lot of new friends here,"
she told us of the moment she found out the news. "And making
new friends is kind of hard when you go to a new school."

For others, like football players Joshua Williams and Carson
Heidecker, NDC was their home away from home.

"My plan, eventually, is to go back home to Florida to strive
for my goals," Williams, a cornerback, said.

"When you sign your letter of intent here, it's like, 'I want to
graduate from Notre Dame College. I want a degree from here,'"
Heidecker, an offensive lineman from nearby Columbia Station,
added. "All of our friends, we've kind of become like men and
women here. And now kind of all [of] the sudden, we've got to go
somewhere else."

That connection also exists for faculty and staff.

"Most of the people who work here at the college have been here
for a long time," Mobley said. "They're very committed to the
students, they're very committed to the college, and they're
very upset that it's going to close."

What about South Euclid?
"We sadly acknowledge the potential closure of this revered and
historic institution that has been an integral part of our
city's identity for nearly 101 years," Mayor Georgine Welo said
in a statement. "Together, we will work to honor the legacy of
Notre Dame College and keep South Euclid a great place to 'Come
Together & Thrive.'"

South Euclid City Councilwoman Sara Continenza represents Ward
3, which includes not just NDC, but an estimated 500-1,000
employees who provide income tax revenue as well as about 1,400
students who shop and rent in the area.

"It's definitely sad, shocking, and devastating, all at once,"
Continenza told WKYC. "We get a lot of our revenue from the
taxpayer, the homeowners, so the housing market will shift.
There are a lot of renters because of the university that will
likely not be here anymore."

First founded in Cleveland, it wasn't until 1928 that Notre Dame
College moved to its 48-acre location in South Euclid. It became
an area staple, with a timeless motto we all remember of,
"Changing the world, one student at a time."

Today, barring a miracle, the impending closure will be one of
the biggest challenges for the east side suburb.

"We will rise out of this, and I just want to send that
message," Continenza declared. "Do not lose hope. We are going
to make something beautiful out of this."

https://www.wkyc.com/article/news/local/cuyahoga-county/notre-
dame-college-to-close-at-end-of-this-semester/95-ded59e15-51e5-
4638-84ec-529621b4c29b