University presidents give answers on merger

FINDLAY — Questions and concerns were addressed about the planned University of Findlay-Bluffton University's merger at a town hall event Monday, held at the Winebrenner Theological Seminary in Findlay. University of Findlay President Katherine Fell and Bluffton University President Jane Wood announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding with the intent to merge operations at a joint press conference last week. Fell said the universities will remain separate entities until the merger is approved, which is expected to happen in about 12-15 months. The merger is projected to be finalized by fall 2025. Why are the University of Findlay and Bluffton University merging? Was the decision to pursue a merger made for financial reasons? The decision to pursue a merger between the universities was not due to financial reasons, both presidents said. It will instead allow the universities to get ahead of the "enrollment cliff," where universities are expected to see a drop in enrollment of college-aged students. "There is a population cliff coming of traditionally college-age students," Fell said. "This type of merger, not only is good for us, whether that cliff is coming or not -- for reasons of synergies of courses and more offerings for our students, more beautiful spaces for our students to spend time -- but it is also a preparation for that cliff." Universities that serve the regional population are going to be hit the hardest by the cliff and expect to lose 11% of their students by 2029, according to data from the College and University Professional Association for Human Resources. The organization attributes the loss in students to the sharp decline in births during the 2008 recession. "We all know that we are going to have fewer college-aged students in the next five to 8, 9, 10 years," Wood said. "So we started talking about these really interesting places where (Bluffton) had some unique strengths and where Findlay also had some strengths and how we could leverage this for our students, and for, quite frankly, future enrollment pipelines." Will Bluffton University's campus change or go away? Bluffton's campus will not change or go away, Fell said Monday. "I want to be clear that neither president would, nor anyone at the University of Findlay, has any intention of completely changing or taking away the Bluffton campus," Fell said. But some aspects of Bluffton University are set to change with the merger. "Bluffton University campus, whatever its title might be, will be a significant part of the University of Findlay," Fell said. "We'll have one university, one president (and) one cabinet." Other features of Bluffton University will stay the same following the finalization of the merger, though, like participation in Division III athletics and staying affiliated with Mennonite Church USA. University of Findlay intends to stay affiliated with the Churches of God, General Conference, and continue to play in Division II athletics. What will happen to faculty at their respective universities? What exactly will happen to faculty isn't known yet, Fell said. "They may choose to have some courses offered or a program offered at one campus or the other instead of divided." Fell said faculty and staff at both schools will be placed on "transition teams" that will help the cabinet assess what's best for their educators. "We're already talking about it, but we haven't gotten to an answer yet," Fell said. But tenure will continue to be honored after the merger, Wood said. "Whether they're teaching at Bluffton or they are invited to teach a class here at the University of Findlay, tenure will be honored," she said. What's next? A second town hall will be held at 7 p.m. tonight at the Yoder Recital Hall on Bluffton University's campus. Questions about the merger can be submitted at www.findlayblufftonfuture.com.