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The following FAQs were updated June 30, 2025

General:

• What does Change of Control mean?

  • The Higher Learning Commission’s (HLC) approval of a merger is considered a Change of Control or a change in the structure and governance of an organization. As it pertains to Ursuline College and ³ÉÈ˽ûÇø University, this step in the merger process means ³ÉÈ˽ûÇø University has replaced the Ursuline Sisters of Cleveland as the sole member of Ursuline College Corporation. As a result, Ursuline College is now sponsored by the Catholic Diocese of Erie.

    A new nine-member transitional board has replaced Ursuline’s previous board of trustees and will oversee the College until the official merger in December 2026.

    Ursuline College Board of Trustees

    • Teri Herrmann Corletzi, UC‘90 
      Board Chair, Ursuline College Board of Trustees
      COR Capital
    • Sister Laura Bregar, OSU, UC’81, MA’99 
      Leadership Team, Ursuline Sisters of Cleveland
    • Cynthia Moore-Hardy, FACHE
      Retired President & CEO, Lake Health
    • Ernest J. DiSantis, Jr., JD, GU’70
      President Judge, retired, Erie County Court of Common Pleas
    • William R. Edmondson
      Vice President of Enrollment, retired, ³ÉÈ˽ûÇø University
    • Sarah Ewing, Ph.D.
      Provost and Vice President for Student Experience, ³ÉÈ˽ûÇø University
    • Walter Iwanenko, Jr., Ph.D.
      President, ³ÉÈ˽ûÇø University
    • Jennifer Lundy, Ed.D.
      Vice President for Finance and Campus Operations, ³ÉÈ˽ûÇø University
    • James A. Scozzie, Ph.D., GU’65
      Senior Vice President, retired, BioEnterprise Corp. of Cleveland

• What changes will take place at Ursuline and ³ÉÈ˽ûÇø now that the Change of Control has taken place?

  • There will be more noticeable presences and visits from both ³ÉÈ˽ûÇø University and Ursuline College leaders on each other's campuses. This includes visits from ³ÉÈ˽ûÇø President Walter Iwanenko, as well as increased engagement from Ursuline leaders at ³ÉÈ˽ûÇø. The goal is to foster deeper collaboration, mutual learning, and shared initiatives. Opportunities will include joint Town Halls and expanded avenues for cooperative programming and dialogue.

• What happens between Change of Control and Full Merger?

  • Until the merger in December of 2026, Ursuline College remains an independent institution, accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) and authorized by ODHE to operate in Ohio. ³ÉÈ˽ûÇø University, accredited by the Middle States Commission for Higher Education (MSCHE), will obtain operating authorization from the Ohio Department of Higher Education (ODHE). At merger, MSCHE will accredit the combined institution, approve Ursuline’s campus as an additional ³ÉÈ˽ûÇø location, and the U.S. Department of Education will recognize them as a single entity authorized for federal financial aid.

    In the interim, integration continues through shared services agreements, academic articulations, and gradual institutional merger, with regular communications to faculty, staff, alumni, and students about news, updates, or changes.

• What does it mean that Ursuline College is now sponsored by the Catholic Diocese of Erie?

  • A sponsor is a steward, accountable to the church for the organization’s Catholic identity and ministry, as well as its financial health and property ownership. As the name implies, Ursuline College was sponsored by the Ursuline Sisters of Cleveland. The College will now fall under ³ÉÈ˽ûÇø University’s sponsorship, which is through the Roman Catholic Diocese of Erie.

The following FAQs were updated Jan. 2, 2025

General:

• What is the significance of the Definitive Agreement?

  • Unlike the Letter of Intent (LOI), which was signed in September between ³ÉÈ˽ûÇø University and Ursuline College, the Definite Agreement is a legally binding agreement.

• What is contained in the Definite Agreement?

  • The Definitive Agreement legally documents the objective of the merger. Under this agreement, Ursuline College will be renamed the Ursuline College Campus of ³ÉÈ˽ûÇø University, while maintaining normal operations at its Pepper Pike campus. The merger respects and upholds key priorities outlined by Ursuline College, including: 
    • Preserving its Catholic tradition. 
    • Partnering with a financially stronger institution committed to investing in Ursuline’s long-term success.
    • Continuing operations at the Pepper Pike campus.
    • Building on Ursuline’s strengths in healthcare and related fields, leveraging its strong partnerships with major Cleveland healthcare institutions.
    • Honoring the Ursuline name and identity.
    • Maintaining its focus on women’s education and dedication to serving underserved and under-resourced communities.
    • Sustaining Ursuline’s Intercollegiate Athletic Programs.
  • This merger aims to create a stronger, unified regional Catholic institution while respecting Ursuline College’s legacy and mission.

• Are the Ursuline Sisters no longer part of Ursuline College?

  • The Ursuline Sisters were looking for a new partner to serve as a sponsor for Ursuline College. Essential to the search was an entity that ensures Catholic higher education would be maintained when the Ursuline Sisters no longer exist. The sisters will still remain integral to Ursuline College Campus of ³ÉÈ˽ûÇø University.

• Will there be any changes immediately?

  • No. Both the Erie and Pepper Pike campuses will operate as usual while our 13 integration teams consisting of faculty, staff and leaders from both institutions continue to collaborate to make recommendations on how each area can best build on each other’s combined strengths.

• How will the leadership structure change at Ursuline College under the Definitive Agreement?

  • Upon approval of Change of Control from accreditors in June of 2025, operationally, nothing will change. The most visible change will be in governance. At that time, the Ursuline College Board of Trustees will relinquish their duties. Governing Ursuline College will be a new nine-member transitional Board with six members from ³ÉÈ˽ûÇø and three members from Ursuline. This board will govern until the full merger, by Dec. 15, 2026. At this time, there will be one board.

Students and Academic Programs:

• How will students benefit from this merger?

  • This merger is intended to grow the Pepper Pike Campus and offer students in Erie and Pepper Pike more opportunities. This will potentially include a mix of virtual and in-person classes to provide programs not currently available on each campus. Integration teams from both institutions will collaborate over the next year to develop recommendations on implementing these changes, with shared experiences such as study abroad and travel opportunities anticipated to begin as early as Spring 2025.

• What name will be on future diplomas?

  • Nothing will change on the diplomas until 2027.

Partnership Process:

• What are the next steps in the partnership process?

  • Our application to HLC for Change of Control, for which the Definitive Agreement is required, will be reviewed, and voted upon in June 2025. If approved by the HLC, a Change of Control will take effect with Ursuline College becoming part of ³ÉÈ˽ûÇø University. 

    The agreement will still require approval by the Departments of Education in Pennsylvania, Ohio and at the federal level. This process takes place over an 18- to 24-month period. During this time, integration in each area will take place incrementally and at the recommendations of each institution's own staff, faculty, and leadership.

Alumni & Donors:

• What will this merger mean for alumni at ³ÉÈ˽ûÇø University and Ursuline College?

  • ³ÉÈ˽ûÇø University merged with Villa Maria College in 1989. St. John College’s Nursing Program merged with Ursuline College in 1975. As a result of ³ÉÈ˽ûÇø and Ursuline combining, all alumni associations will continue.

• Will donors be able to designate their giving to the Ursuline College Campus in Pepper Pike?

  • Yes. Honoring donor intent is important to ³ÉÈ˽ûÇø University, which respects the historic and lifetime donors of Ursuline College and its connection to the supporters of the Ursuline mission dating back to the 1800s.

Athletics

• Will athletics merge?

  • The athletic programs will continue at each campus, including with its respective team mascot and colors. Both will continue to play in their respective conferences, the Great Midwest Athletic Conference (GMAC) for Ursuline and Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) at ³ÉÈ˽ûÇø University. Both are part of the NCAA Division II.

The following FAQs were posted Sept. 16, 2024

General of All:

• Why is ³ÉÈ˽ûÇø partnering with Ursuline College? 

• • ³ÉÈ˽ûÇø University is entering into a strategic partnership with Ursuline College to expand its academic offerings, enhance its presence in northeast Ohio, and strengthen its commitment to student-centered education. By combining Ursuline’s strong academic offering with ³ÉÈ˽ûÇø’s comprehensive professional fields, the partnership allows for a more dynamic educational experience. 

• How does this partnership align with ³ÉÈ˽ûÇø’s mission? 

• • Both ³ÉÈ˽ûÇø University and Ursuline College align closely through the shared mission of providing a value-centered, student-focused education strongly rooted in Catholic tradition.  

• Is this partnership financially necessary and beneficial to ³ÉÈ˽ûÇø University? And for Ursuline College? 

• • The partnership between ³ÉÈ˽ûÇø University and Ursuline College is financially beneficial and strategic for both institutions. For ³ÉÈ˽ûÇø, the expansion into northeast Ohio enhances its regional presence and student enrollment, providing long-term growth opportunities. For Ursuline College, joining forces with ³ÉÈ˽ûÇø ensures continued access to resources, programs and support, securing its future and allowing it to continue to thrive in a competitive higher education landscape. This partnership strengthens both institutions, making them better positioned to serve their students and communities. 

• How will ³ÉÈ˽ûÇø and Ursuline combine?  

• • ³ÉÈ˽ûÇø University will replace the Ursuline Sisters as the sole member of the Ursuline College Corporation. Subject to regulatory and accrediting body approvals, the College will be combined into the University based on the terms of a Definitive Agreement that will be developed in the coming weeks.   

• What is the approval process and timeline? 

• • The strategic partnership must follow the regulatory requirements of state and federal departments of education and is subject of the approval of the accrediting bodies (Middle States Commission on Higher Education [MSCHE] and Higher Learning Commission [HLC]). The process can take between 12 and 18 months.

• What does Letter of Intent mean?  

• • The Letter of Intent (LOI) was signed by both ³ÉÈ˽ûÇø University and Ursuline College in September 2024. This is essentially an agreement that says we are committed to working together, but we are still in the process of exploring all the details. This reflects our shared interest in seeing how we can collaborate to benefit both of our communities. It allows us to ensure that every aspect is carefully considered before we reach a final, definitive agreement. 

• When will the agreement be finished? 

• • The next step is working through additional due diligence and working out the terms.  The definitive agreement will establish the official timing, subject to regulatory approval. 

• What is a definitive agreement? 

• • A definitive agreement is a binding contract that states the final terms and conditions of transactions between two organizations. 

• How did we arrive at this point, and why have we not heard about it before now? 

• • ³ÉÈ˽ûÇø University and Ursuline College have been in discussions since the spring, exploring if a strategic partnership will benefit either party. Early conversations are private out of respect for both communities and given transitions in leadership at Ursuline, which recently named a new president.
    

    The announcement of an LOI signals a public phase of the discussion and exploration, during which we will gather additional due diligence information, prepare more detailed financial pro-formas and academic program mapping, negotiate key terms of a definitive agreement with Ursuline College, resolve additional conditions of the strategic partnership, and establish working groups at both institutions.

• Is Ursuline College selling or releasing ownership of its campus? 

• • The campus property and all Ursuline College assets and liabilities would eventually become property of ³ÉÈ˽ûÇø University, if a definitive agreement is reached and approved by the Ursuline Sisters of Cleveland.

• Where will the Ursuline campus be located? 

• • The campus will be maintained in Pepper Pike, Ohio. 

Parents and Students:

• How does this partnership impact the enrollment of ³ÉÈ˽ûÇø University?

  • Integrating Ursuline College’s programs not only brings the nearly 1,000 students currently attending the college under the ³ÉÈ˽ûÇø umbrella but also allows ³ÉÈ˽ûÇø to attract a broader range of students, particularly from the northeast Ohio region, who are interested in the expanded curriculum provides new resources to Ursuline and opens new opportunities to continue educational pursuits at ³ÉÈ˽ûÇø’s Erie and Ruskin campuses. This strategic expansion helps ³ÉÈ˽ûÇø strengthen its competitive position in the higher education market and supports its long-term growth. This move also reflects the proactive approach the Sisters and Ursuline’s leadership have taken to preserve the institution’s longevity and to retain its connection to the church. 

• Will there be any impact on tuition, fees or other costs for current students?

  • The Letter of Intent does not change anything about current operations, including tuition, fees and financial aid offered by either institution. Both institutions are committed to supporting current and future students. Future plans will be developed with the input of existing committees, new working groups and the approval of the board of trustees.

• How will this impact the programs and courses offered at both ³ÉÈ˽ûÇø and Ursuline?

  • There will be no immediate impact on programs or courses. Working groups will work across the institutions to identify opportunities to leverage each institution’s unique program offerings and share resources where programs overlap.

• How will the university maintain accreditation standards during the transition?

  • The university has informed its accrediting body and will work closely with both MSCHE and HLC during the process to meet all requirements of accreditation. As noted previously, the strategic partnership is subject to the approval of MSCHE and HLC.

• What will happen to the current students at Ursuline College?

  • Will credits transfer seamlessly to ³ÉÈ˽ûÇø?
    • More information will be available as the working groups get underway. 
  • How will ³ÉÈ˽ûÇø support these students during the transition?
    • Students currently enrolled at Ursuline will benefit from all their existing supports at Ursuline. As we move through the process of the strategic partnership, we anticipate UC students being able to take advantage of additional supports unique to ³ÉÈ˽ûÇø University.

• Will there be any changes to student housing and campus facilities?

  • UC student housing and campus facilities will remain open and operational. 

Athletics:

• What will this mean for athletics at ³ÉÈ˽ûÇø? Will anything change?

  • There are no current plans to combine any athletic programs or make any immediate changes at either institution given the different locations, legacies and conferences. ³ÉÈ˽ûÇø values athletics as part of the student experience. There should be no immediate change to recruiting or competition.

Faculty and Staff:

• What will happen to the faculty and staff of both colleges? Will their roles and responsibilities change?

  • Working groups with membership from both colleges will evaluate how to best integrate existing departments and functions. Your input will be critical to the success of these efforts. 

• How will the university manage the combination process?

  • Formal plans are being developed pending the definitive agreement. We anticipate various working groups with specific charges to make recommendations that leverage the best of each college’s policies, procedures, practices, systems, etc. We will seek the best ideas that further the mission and vision of the colleges. 

Ruskin:

• Does this delay any future investments in the Ruskin campus/area?

  • ³ÉÈ˽ûÇø is committed to investing in the future of the university’s campuses in many ways. This strategic partnership presents an opportunity to expand our academic offerings and opportunities to students on the Ursuline campus in Ohio. 

• Are there any details being considered that would specifically affect Ruskin, and not Erie?

  • Not at this time. ³ÉÈ˽ûÇø remains committed to its investment in Ruskin and seeks opportunities to develop new and strengthen existing programs at its Ruskin location.

• Will Ursuline graduate programs be future offerings in Ruskin?

  • We will have to assess this in time, but there are no immediate plans to do so.

• Is the Ruskin campus being reviewed for any potential similar partnerships or acquisitions in the Florida market?

  • Not at this time.

Alumni and Donors:

• What will happen to Ursuline College’s alumni network? 

  • ³ÉÈ˽ûÇø has deep experience from the Villa Maria College merger, which is evident at events such as Homecoming.  We look forward to working collaboratively with Ursuline College’s alumni network to support the continued engagement of UC alumni. 

• What will happen with my donation?

  • Both institutions will continue to work to ensure that all donor intentions are honored. If you have made a donation to a specific college, program or initiative, those funds will continue to support the purpose you designated.

Board:

• Will there be two Boards of Trustees?

• • ³ÉÈ˽ûÇø University will replace the Ursuline Sisters as the sole member of the Ursuline College Corporation and will have one board of trustees that is reflective of the shared interests for both institutions. More specific details will be worked through during the due diligence process.

Have additional Questions?

• Who can we contact with questions?

  • Any immediate questions you have can be submitted . If you would like someone to follow-up with you, please put your name and email address in the form, and we will get back to you as soon as possible.