PEPPER PIKE, Ohio – A premiere institution of Catholic higher education on Lake Erie started to take shape as the presidents of Gannon University and Ursuline College announced on Monday that they had signed a Letter of Intent to enter a strategic partnership.
According to a press release, the move, which is contingent on the successful completion of due diligence, will create an institution with about 6,000 students, 1,300 employees, and campuses in three states – Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Florida. Once complete, it will be the largest Catholic university system in the region.
“This is an important moment for both of our institutions,” said Dr. Walter Iwanenko Jr., president of Gannon University. “Today, we are joining our stories. One will not erase the other. Instead, together, we will begin crafting the next version of ourselves.”
The announcement was made Monday at Ursuline College during a campus town hall meeting where presidents of both institutions, leaders of the Ursuline College Board of Trustees, and leadership of the Ursuline Sisters of Cleveland gathered.
Ursuline President Dr. David King said, “This collaboration leverages the academic and geographic strengths of both partners to create a more dynamic educational experience.”
“The landscape in higher education, particularly private liberal arts schools, is changing rapidly. Our leadership has taken a proactive approach to embark on a new path that educates our students for generations to come and preserves our traditions and mission,” he said.
Dr. King and Dr. Iwanenko were joined by Sister Laura Bregar, president of the Ursuline Sisters of Cleveland. Ursuline College is a sponsored ministry of the Ursuline Sisters, who must approve this agreement before it can be executed.
“We believe this is the best way to extend the life of the college and continue Ursuline’s legacy so that it can continue to educate students in the Catholic tradition, as it has done for more than 150 years,” Sister Bregar said.
The Sisters are pleased that Gannon, a Catholic university well aligned with Ursuline’s mission, was selected. The move also has the support of both The Most Rev. Edward C. Malesic, Bishop of Cleveland, and The Most Rev. Lawrence T. Persico, Bishop of Erie.
This partnership represents the convergence of three organizations that were all looking to take a next step. Gannon has been exploring expansion opportunities; Ursuline College has been looking to partner with a larger institution; and the Ursuline Sisters wanted to find a partner who would preserve their legacy as the number of Sisters has declined.
During the next two months, both schools will enter an information gathering or “due diligence” phase that will lead to a Definitive Agreement between the two institutions. That agreement will be subject to several regulatory and accreditor approvals. Concurrently, integration teams will begin working to identify how the schools will best operate together. The entire process could take 12 to 18 months.
King said he understands there might be some anxieties on the part of students and employees. He believes these will be relieved in time.
“We know you will have questions, and we look forward to answering them in the days and weeks ahead,” he said.
Both presidents agree that for now there will be no immediate impact on programs, courses or athletic teams, tuition or scholarships. In addition, there will be no immediate effect on employment, pay or benefits at Ursuline.
King explained that college leadership had been engaged in this effort since the spring.
“We proactively sought a mutually beneficial partnership that preserves our traditions, engages our students, faculty, and staff, and offers expanded opportunities,” King said.
“We believe we’ve found that in Gannon,” he said.
Iwanenko shared similar sentiments in his remarks.
“This is a proactive effort by two faith-based institutions to take advantage of our respective strengths,” he said. “We believe we are creating something special that addresses long-term sustainability and has the ability to transform Catholic higher education in the region.”
Both institutions have created web pages to update their stakeholders on the process and answer frequently asked questions at ursuline.edu and gannon.edu/UCFAQ.
Ursuline, which was founded in 1871, is a historically women’s college for all, educates male and female students for service, leadership, and professional excellence through an array of undergraduate, graduate and degree-completion programs in the liberal arts, nursing, and professional studies. At Ursuline, historically women-focused programs and a growing portfolio of graduate and degree-completion programs foster lifelong learning. The college is home to the Breen School of Nursing and Health Professions, a National League of Nursing Center for Nursing Excellence, and offers 12 intercollegiate sports, including 11 competing at the NCAA Division II level.
Gannon, which will mark its 100th year in 2025, is a Catholic, diocesan university with campuses in Erie and Ruskin, Florida, which offers online and traditional associate, bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral programs to more than 4,500 academically talented and diverse students. Inspired by the Catholic Intellectual Tradition, the university offers a comprehensive, values-centered learning experience that emphasizes faith, leadership, inclusiveness and social responsibility. The university has 24 intercollegiate teams competing at the NCAA Division II level.
