ADRIAN, Mich. (WTVG) – After more than a century, Siena Heights University in Adrian has decided to close its doors. Its last year of operation will be the upcoming 2025-2026 school year.
Some students said Siena Heights University was their dream school, and they still plan to attend this fall, even if it’s just for one year. They say, although this is an unfortunate situation, they’re trying to make the best of whatever time they have left on campus.
“Just sucks that it’s going to be short-lived,” said Jonathon Sannes, who plans to attend SHU in the fall.
While most college students are enjoying the summer, Siena Heights University students are suddenly feeling some anxiety. The university announced Monday it would close after the 2025-2026 school year, creating an unexpected twist for its 2,000 students.
For Sannes, coming to Siena Heights has been a dream 15 years in the making. But now that dream will be short-lived.
“I was trucking for three years, so that kind of put a damper on what I wanted to do. And then I finally finished that up and was like, ‘Okay I’m ready for the next chapter, let’s work on going to Broadway,’” said Sannes. “And the first step is my dream school, Siena Heights University. And so I got everything together, I put an audition in, they gave me a scholarship and I’m ready to go. And now it’s just heartbreaking.”
Onjya Galloway got both an academic scholarship and an athletic scholarship for cheer.
“I knew people there, I had already started making some friendships. And I didn’t want to give up on them just because it’s only going to be one year. I still wanted to go and have that, even if it is one year,” said Galloway.
“We’ve been in contact with multiple institutions for both teach-out agreements and transfer agreements. And so we’re going to work diligently to give students the most opportunities possible so they have a vibrant future moving forward,” Cheri Betz, the executive vice president for the university, said.
She said this was a difficult but necessary choice.
“You can read all about institutions that are facing these types of demographic cliff issues and other related things that really go into making the decision of whether or not operating past the 25 -26 year is feasible. And I think what Siena’s done is really looked at this in an honorable way,” said Betz.
Betz also said the university will be hosting transfer fairs.
In the meantime, incoming freshmen like Athena Brocus are still trying to digest the news.
“I felt that switching to Siena would make me feel like how I did at (Cardinal) Stritch,” said Brocus. “Everybody was super close, we knew each other, I had very close friend groups, and I just thought a small college would be great for me too.”
Upon hearing of the closure of Siena Heights University, Walsh University announced that it would extend automatic acceptance and a guarantee of a financial aid package matching to all students of Siena Heights University. For more information about Walsh University, click here.
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