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On Thursday, Jan. 28, the two colleges announced that they are moving forward with a formal agreement that will allow Iona to provide continued education for Concordia’s students through a teach-out plan, enabling most Concordia students to complete their degrees at Iona.
“Concordia’s challenges are reflected broadly in the higher education sector; accelerated by the pandemic, these challenges necessitated an outcome that brings deep pain to all those invested in Concordia and its 140-year history,” Concordia President John Nunes said. “I am grateful to the Board of Regents and my administration for working so hard to save our institution.
“Students continue to be our priority,” he added. “By acting now, Concordia’s Regents have provided our students with an excellent pathway for continuing the high-quality, faith-informed education they began at Concordia.”
Classes at Concordia will cease with the fall 2021 semester and the college will close. Iona plans to utilize the Concordia campus to develop a school of health sciences to "furthering Iona’s strategic investments in the field, and continuing Concordia’s legacy of excellence in health sciences education."
‘The closure of a sister institution affects us all. As I’ve said since I arrived at Iona, higher education must, and will, be different going forward,” Iona President Seamus Carey said. “This is especially true for private, faith-based institutions, and the COVID-19 pandemic has only exacerbated the circumstances demanding change.
“While we pursue regulatory approvals, Iona and Concordia will work together to ensure their students can complete their education with minimal disruption.”
Details of the agreement are being finalized and are subject to regulatory approval. The agreement is expected to be completed by the summer. Check Daily Voice for new information as it is made available.
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