UArts’ Sudden Closure Prompts New Legislation for PA Universities
On May 31, 2024, the University of the Arts (UArts) in Philadelphia abruptly announced its closure after 150 years, announcing the closure was the result of declining enrollment and financial hardship. With one week’s notice to students, faculty and state officials, UArts effectively closed on June 7, 2024.
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The abrupt closure of UArts has prompted both litigation and new legislation. The university’s faculty union has filed a class-action lawsuit, along with an Unfair Labor Practice charge with the National Labor Relations Board. Additionally, due to its failure to provide proper notice of its closure to students and faculty, UArts’ accreditation from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education was revoked.
This news has also prompted the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General and state lawmakers to investigate the closing of UArts. There are more than 100 private universities across Pennsylvania, in addition to the state-owned higher education system. Most of these private universities, such as UArts, receive some state funding even though they are not public universities. To proactively prevent this type of closure in the future, Representative Ben Waxman and Representative Bob Merski announced a proposal in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives on June 13, to make state funding contingent on universities providing: (1) notification to the state of impending closure or consolidation plans; (2) submission of annual enrollment and financial data; and (3) creation of repository transcripts.
While this proposal would not rectify the problems former UArts students and faculty are currently facing, legislators hope to increase transparency to prevent future closures. Looking ahead, there have been discussions surrounding a possible merger or sale of UArts to a local university. For now, UArts confirmed it will attempt to provide its students with a pathway to transfer to other Philadelphia schools.
Co-authors Bill Matthews, chair, and Elizabeth Bucilla, associate, are members of the education practice group at Klehr Harrison.