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Cardinal Stritch University closing, 'wind down' of operations starts May 22
Cardinal Stritch University is closing, President Dr. Dan Scholz announced Monday.
MILWAUKEE - Cardinal Stritch University is closing permanently, President Dr. Dan Scholz announced Monday, April 10.
In his announcement video posted to YouTube, President Scholz explained the reasons, which include dropping enrollment and other problems.
"We are all devastated by this development. But after examining all options, this decision was necessary. I wish there was a different path we could pursue. However, the fiscal realities, downward enrollment trends, the pandemic, the need for more resources, and the mounting operation and facility challenges presented a no-win situation," Scholz said.
The Sisters of St. Francis of Assisi opened the school that would become Stritch in 1937. Scholz said the sisters accepted the recommendation of the University's Board of Trustees to close educational programs effective May 22, 2023.
"I am profoundly sad for the students, the faculty, the staff, our alumni, our Board of Trustees, our benefactors, our business partners, and for the community overall. And of course, for the Sisters of St. Francis of Assisi. We share their pain and sorrow -- and we join with them in prayer and hope that as we celebrate the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ during this Easter season, we can look to the future with confidence that there will be better days ahead."
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"In the end, it was determined that we could no longer continue to provide the high-quality educational experiences our students rightly deserve. Now, our attention will turn to helping our students, supporting our faculty and staff, and doing the best we can in winding down operations at our beloved university," the university president added in the video message.
Scholz said the university's "bittersweet" final commencement will be May 21 at the Wisconsin Center in Milwaukee. He said to the extent financially possible, they will help students who are close to graduation, so they can meet degree requirements.
As far as all the other students, Scholz added they were finalizing partnerships with local colleges and universities. He also said they'd help students who planned to start at Stritch. For faculty and staff, the university president said they would still offer the employee assistance program and other help.
The school will close not just for the summer, but for good, after more than 85 years of learning.
Cardinal Stritch students saddened by the news
The university reports 40,000 alumni. Now, there's just one final graduating class left. That means most of the current 1,263 students won't join the Stritch alumni ranks.
Students mourned Monday's announcement and their dreams of graduating from Cardinal Stritch.
"It's really that kind of family feel I'll miss the most," said Noah Clements, a junior from the Chicago suburbs. "Not graduating with these people is definitely a sad part."
There was no class Monday due to the Easter holiday, but athletes and international students were on campus when the news broke.
"The people here have been so open and welcoming, and I found my best friends here," said Nora Vangsnes, sophomore from Norway. "It’s the people here that means everything. Coming here is like, you found a second home."
"This is my home," said Adrian Manchado, freshman from Spain. "When I came here, everyone here was amazing with me."
This school family will have to find new places to study and play, a new home.
"The shock is just all the emotions: angry, sad, the hopeless frustration, said Vangsnes. "It feels like your family is torn apart. We are all here in the same boat. They become your family, and now we have to part ways."