Los Angeles, CA – Antioch University’s Board of Trustees today, at their Board meeting in Los Angeles, reconfirmed the June 2007 decision for the orderly suspension of operations at Antioch College campus in Ohio effective June 30, 2008; reemphasized their commitment the future re-opening of the College; and agreed to continue discussions with the Antioch College Continuation Corporation (ACCC) for the future revival of the College.
The Trustees have been in discussions with the ACCC since December regarding the possible transfer of the College. The Trustees and ACCC were unable to reach an agreement by the Feb 15 deadline to be able to continue operations. The Trustees reconfirmed their decision because of the critical need to clarify for the students, faculty and staff that they would need to make plans for the next phase in their educations and careers, and because it was simply too late for the College to operate next year without funds or recruitment of a new class.
In recognition of the current lack of a sustainable fiscal and academic plan for the College, the Trustees reaffirmed its June 2007 decision. At the same time and while acknowledging the hard work and commitment of the ACCC, the Trustees expressed a willingness to continue discussions on the future transfer of the College, but it will not be open this coming fall.
This decision does not affect Antioch University’s non-residential campuses located in Yellow Springs, OH (McGregor); Keene, NH; Los Angeles, CA; Santa Barbara, CA; and Seattle, WA and its national PhD program in Leadership and Change which are strong and growing. These five University campuses and its PhD program will continue to operate with no interruption. All campus presidents are united in their support of the rebirth of Antioch College in Ohio.
Art Zucker, chairman of the Trustees, noted: “The Trustees, the University administration and the alumni spent the last eight months passionately trying to save the College after the realities of the College’s finances were announced. The College Alumni Board’s financial consultant validated the financial basis on which the Trustees’ original decision was made. We appreciate the efforts of the ACCC and we hope for the finalization of a plan for the College that is academically and financially sustainable.
“The realities of Antioch College’s financial shortfall mandate that we suspend the operations of the College beginning in June. Now our attention will turn towards smoothing the transition for everybody.”
Antioch University and the College will work together with Antioch College students, faculty, staff and community to ensure they are able to plan the next steps in their academic and professional careers, and community development.
In his announcement, Zucker said, “We know this College has been the lifeblood for many of you, and the College is as close to your heart as a member of your family. So it is for me. We need to support each other through this time and focus on helping our students graduate or find a place to continue their education. We are going to direct our attention immediately to the needs of the College’s individual faculty, staff and students.”
It has been a difficult year since Antioch University’s Board of Trustees – many of whom are College alumni – faced the reality that the undergraduate college had insurmountable financial problems and an unsustainable business plan.
Prior to its June 2007 meeting, the Trustees spent hundreds of hours reviewing options to keep the College open, but decided none offered long-term financial sustainability or provided the quality of educational experience and opportunity Antioch students deserve. At that point, the Trustees had no alternative but to suspend operations and plan for rebuilding the College in the coming years.
In response, Antioch College alumni raised considerable funds and proposed a plan to the Trustees that, after much collaborative negotiation, resulted in Agreements in Principle. Then, late last year, several large donors and members of the Alumni Board balked at these agreements and insisted on more authority for the proposed Antioch College Board of Trustees and ultimately a full separation of the College from the University. Those alumni created a separate nonprofit corporation known as the ACCC for the purpose of acquiring the College. Unfortunately, the University Trustees and the ACCC were unable to reach an agreement in time to continue College operations.
The Board’s fiduciary responsibility includes the five non-residential University campuses as well as the College. Inherent in that is the need to determine what is in the best interests – fiscally and academically – of the entire University.
Antioch University is founded on principles of rigorous liberal arts education, innovative experiential learning and socially engaged citizenship. The multiple campuses of the University nurture in their students the knowledge, skills and habits of reflection to excel as lifelong learners, democratic leaders and global citizens who live lives of meaning and purpose.
Antioch University consists of six campuses located in four states. Each campus has its own distinct academic programs and community life while functioning under the Antioch University umbrella that provides common mission, vision and values along with cost effective delivery of administrative and support services.
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