The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)

‘We have to think unconventi­onally’

New model: University of Bridgeport could be absorbed by other institutio­ns

- By Linda Conner Lambeck

In two years, the University of Bridgeport campus will remain, but the 92-year-old institutio­n could be absorbed by other higher education institutio­ns.

That was the plan unveiled Tuesday by the presidents of UB, Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Goodwin University in East Hartford and Paier College of Art in Hamden as they stood shoulder to shoulder on the waterfront campus.

They are proposing what many consider a new model that would keep higher education as an anchor in the city’s South End, on a campus where multiple institutio­ns will co-exist — just not UB.

Barbara Brittingha­m, outgoing president of the New England Commission of Higher Education— one of the accreditin­g agencies that must approve the deal — said Tuesday that when the process is complete, it is her understand­ing UB will cease to exist.

Bridgeport Mayor Joseph Ganim, a UB alum, called the proposed collaborat­ion exciting.

UB Board of Trustees Chairman Robert Berchem called it a proactive plan to protect the futures of UB students.

Gov. Ned Lamont, also at the announceme­nt, called it a little bit like a food court approach.

“I could not be more proud to be part of this partnershi­p,” Lamont said, gazing out onto UB’s bucolic waterfront campus.

In the works quietly for at least a month according to the presidents, the deal would divvy up UB’s programs and buildings between Goodwin, Sacred Heart and Paier. Eventually other higher education institutio­ns could be involved. Exactly who would get what is still being worked out, officials said.

“It’s still very brand new,” said UB Interim President Stephen Healey.

For now UB will

continue to operate as is, while the plan is vetted by accreditin­g bodies and the banks sort out UB’s financial situation. Ultimately the final deal needs the approval of each institutio­n’s board of trustees, as well as a transition period to examine and align resources and programs.

UB students — there are an estimated 4,500 of them — would be guided through the completion of their courses of study.

The announceme­nt brought out most of the city’s legislativ­e delegation and a good number of city council members — Jorge Cruz Sr., who represents the district where UB is situated, among them.

Cruz said he had concerns about the plan.

“It’s new,” he told Goodwin President Mark Scheinberg. “I want to sit down and make sure you will be working together with us in this district.”

Sacred Heart University President John Petillo, whose institutio­n stands to acquire engineerin­g, and some health science and education programs and the buildings that house them, said this is no “salvage operation.”

“Rather, it’s an enhancemen­t opportunit­y,” said Petillo, whose university is considered the secondlarg­est

independen­t Catholic university in New England, with 80 programs and more than 9,000 students.

Petillo said he likes that Sacred Heart, which sits at the other end of Park Avenue from UB, isn’t going it alone in the collaborat­ive.

Paier College of Art in Hamden is part of the collaborat­ive to add art, graphic design and interior design programs on the UB campus.

Goodwin President Mark Scheinberg, whose institutio­n stands to acquire the lion’s share of UB’s programs, said he’s done his homework.

His idea is let the UB name live on as a full branch of Goodwin. If all goes as planned, he is also planning to relocate to Bridgeport and live on the UB campus, he said.

“This is big for us,” Scheinberg said. “Goodwin and UB are like kindred spirits.”

Goodwin’s focus is on serving a diverse student population in an environmen­t that aligns education, commerce and community. Scheinberg said Goodwin wasn’t necessaril­y looking for a partner but rather for “what’s next.”

“If 2020 has taught us anything, it’s that we have to think unconventi­onally,” Scheinberg said. “UB still has a lot of resources. They didn’t have to do this.”

Like other higher education

institutio­ns, however, Scheinberg said UB was struggling financiall­y and eating through its modest endowment.

UB’s debt, Scheinberg added, is not large enough that can’t be paid off by the other universiti­es when the deal is closed. Right now, he and others, say there is a non-disclosure agreement on the still-fluid deal.

UB, Sacred Heart and Goodwin all have experience with mergers. Sacred Heart acquired St. Vincent’s College; Goodwin absorbed Lincoln College; and UB took over Bridgeport Hospital’s School of Nursing, all in recent years.

Last year, UB tried to acquire the tiny Marlboro College in Vermont but the deal fell through.

Healey, who was UB Provost at the time, said a lot was learned from the Marlboro experience that has helped shape this process.

Brittingha­m said the commission was pleased with what it heard when an outline of the plan was presented to it last week.

The NECHE president called it a complicate­d process but also a creative one.

“It’s still in motion,” Brittingha­m said. “For those who have a desire to keep higher education in Bridgeport, it sounds like a good arrangemen­t.”

 ?? Ned Gerard / Hearst Connecticu­t Media ?? Mark Scheinberg, president of Goodwin University, speaks during a news conference on the University of Bridgeport campus in Bridgeport on Tuesday. Scheinberg is seen here with UB President Stephen Healey.
Ned Gerard / Hearst Connecticu­t Media Mark Scheinberg, president of Goodwin University, speaks during a news conference on the University of Bridgeport campus in Bridgeport on Tuesday. Scheinberg is seen here with UB President Stephen Healey.

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United States