The future is unclear for students and faculty at Ashford University's Clinton, Iowa campus.
Nearly 500 students attend Ashford's Clinton campus. In addition, nearly 150 faculty members will be impacted from the decision, according to Ashford University's campus director Charlie Minnick.
In a statement posted to the Ashford website on Thursday, July 9, 2015, the following was posted from Ashford University Board of Trustees Chairman Dr. Gregory Geoffroy:
The campus is expected to close after the spring semester of 2016.
"Smaller liberal arts schools are kind of battling for a smaller population of students, and I think we kind of got caught up in that," said Minnick.
Minnick added that the university will begin negotiating with other college institutions in the area, in hopes of setting up a transfer program that would allow Ashford students to keep their earned credits.
Christy Fulfs, an Ashford University education student, read the statement in disbelief Thursday afternoon.
"I was in shock. I was really upset because I'm supposed to student teach that next fall, so I was just wondering, where does that leave me," Fulfs said.
"It's kind of like devastating not knowing what's going to happen next," she added.
While about 60 percent of students will be able to transfer to Ashford's online program to finish their degrees, Fulfs said that does not apply to her.
"You can't student teach online," Fulfs said. "You have to student teach somewhere."
Fulfs, like many other students on campus, are unsure about what they will do next. She worries her credits won't transfer, and even if they do, her tuition was paid for at Ashford University and it would likely not be paid for at another university.
While the announcement of Ashford's closing was "upsetting" for Clinton Area Chamber of Commerce president Nathan Sondgeroth, he's optimistic for moving new industry into the soon-to-be empty buildings.
"What can we do now in Clinton, now that we now this real estate is not going to be used," Sondgeroth said.
"We are going to rally and make sure that we keep Clinton moving forward," Sondgeroth added.
Meanwhile, student Christy Fulfs said she will be meeting with her academic adviser, and planning her next move towards graduation.
In the coming days, student and parent meetings will be held at Ashford's Durgin Center to answer questions. Initial meetings are scheduled for:
- Saturday, July 11 at 11 a.m.
- Monday, July 13 at 1 p.m.
- Tuesday, July 14 at 6 p.m.