Urbana University will permanently close, ceasing enrollments

URBANA — Urbana University has announced it will close as the coronavirus pandemic has “added a level of stress and uncertainty to Urbana’s prospects that make it impossible to sustain,” the university said.

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The university will cease enrollments and discontinue physical operations on the Urbana campus at the end of the 2020 Spring Semester, according to the school’s website.

Urbana University is a branch campus of Franklin University, based in Columbus.

“As a result of this decision, academic programming will be moved to Franklin University, while athletic offerings and on-site administrative roles will cease at the Urbana branch campus,” the university said.

As a result of the closure, 111 full-time employees will be impacted and some will be offered employment at Franklin University.

“Those who will not continue at Franklin will be offered severance packages that include outplacement assistance to help with this difficult transition,” the university announced.

Urbana University currently has 1,254 students.

“Our highest priority is to ensure students experience a seamless transition of their academic studies and that our branch campus employees have the resources to make their transition as well,” said Dr. David Decker, President, Franklin University. “As institutions of higher education across the country struggle to identify ways to stay open, we will do all we can to help students identify the best alternative forward to fulfill their education goals in an affordable manner.”

Seventy-five percent of the students are enrolled in the College Credit Plus program, the Post-Baccalaureate Education program, the MBA-Healthcare program, and the London Correctional Institute program.

“These students will continue their studies uninterrupted and unchanged, as their instruction does not occur on the Urbana campus,” the school said.

The remaining 350 students are residential and commuter students who are currently completing the semester online.

“These students will be able to complete their academic programs online through Franklin University,” the university said. “Students who prefer to transfer to other institutions will be assisted in doing so. For students in the final stages of their studies, a flexible “teach out plan” (a plan for the completion of their academic program) will be developed.”

Urbana University was founded in 1850 and was acquired by Franklin University in 2014.

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