Alliance University to Close After Losing Accreditation
The 140-year-old Christian school, known for being ethnically diverse, is based in Manhattan.
The board of directors of New York City-based Alliance University voted June 29 to shutter the school after learning it had lost its accreditation. The closing will go into effect August 31.
“Alliance University will not offer courses for the fall semester. This news is a tremendous loss for us who love Alliance University and the people here. We are all grieving,” leaders said in a statement.
Formerly known as Nyack College, ethnically diverse Alliance is the latest of at least 18 Christian colleges to fall victim to financial crises and close since the COVID-19 pandemic, Christianity Today reported. The pandemic may have been the nail in the coffin, but the school’s financial woes go further back as it operated off a deficit for several years, including a $10 million deficit in 2019, according to CT.
The university, located in Manhattan, was founded in 1882 as an educational institution of The Christian and Missionary Alliance. The statement said the board of directors for the Christian and Missionary Alliance is exploring the possibility of continuing the Alliance theological seminary program.
“They are considering a number of options,” the statement said.
Alliance said it was “surprised” when it received notice from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) that its accreditation was being withdrawn as of December 31, citing the school’s financial troubles. The school said after evaluating the options “available to it as an institution” and its current financial situation, the board made the “difficult decision” to end both on-campus and online operations.
The commission is a voluntary, peer-based, non-profit membership organization that accredits public and private universities and colleges.
Current students can apply to graduate at the end of the summer or to transfer to one of the colleges that the university has partnered with through “teach-out” agreements that streamline the acceptance of and transfer of credits.
Alliance said it has 35,000 graduates serving in 90 countries around the globe.
“Please pray with us for wisdom and guidance,” the statement ended.
Main photo: Photo via Facebook / Courtesy of Alliance University
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