PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – It is an uncertain future for students and employees of the University of the Arts. The school, which has existed in Philadelphia for nearly 150 years, is suddenly closing.
Katie Hornberger remembers how she felt when she first heard she was accepted into college.
“I called my whole family and I was over the moon. I told all my friends and my teachers,” she said. They were the first to hear it. It was like going to college after all that waiting.”
It was a dream come true for Hornberger, who recently graduated from Downingtown West High School. But her excitement was short-lived.
The University of the Arts suddenly announced on Friday evening that it would close on June 7.
A shock for Hornberger who discovered it on social media. It was a huge disappointment for her as she had already made a $500 deposit to attend college and was also preparing to make arrangements to move to Philadelphia.
“I was done with everything. I created my account. My portal. I even got my school email address,” she said. “Now it’s like I’m not sure where I’m going to live or where I’m going to go.”
In a letter to the UArts community, President Kerry Walk and Board of Trustees Chairman Judson Aaron called the closure a very painful outcome, citing declining enrollment and budget issues.
They said, “The situation came to light very suddenly.”
As a result, the Middle States Commission on Higher Education revoked its accreditation for the school. The university said it will do what it can to help students transfer to other schools in the area.
“People are definitely nervous and scared,” Bradley Philbert said.
Philbert is a faculty member and vice president of the faculty union and said there are about 700 staff members who will be looking for new jobs.
“As far as when the paychecks are going to stop or when the benefits are going to run out, we have a contract that we want to enforce as a union, but we’ll see what the university is able to do,” Philbert said. “We’re going to fight them all the way.”
A lot of unanswered questions that teachers, students and anyone affected by this situation are hoping to get answers during a series of town halls.
The first will take place on Monday, June 3, and more specific details will be released at a later date.
