South Euclid, Ohio — The Notre Dame College (NDC) Board of Trustees has announced it has secured agreements with nine partner colleges and universities to help current NDC students in good standing continue their college careers through a Teach-Out program or as a transfer student.

With these agreements in place, Notre Dame College will conclude its in-person academic instruction at the end of Spring Semester 2024.

Like many small higher education institutions across the country, NDC has faced long-standing challenges related to declining enrollment, a shrinking pool of college-aged students, rising costs and significant debt. These challenges were the impetus for the Board of Trustees’ decision to create newpathways for students to continue their education at partner institutions.

“Throughout this long process, we evaluated every possible option to continue the mission of Notre Dame College, said Terri Bradford Eason, Chair of the Board of Trustees of Notre Dame College. “Our primary focus has been to ensure our students can successfully continue their education, graduate, and — in the tradition of the Sisters of Notre Dame — live a life of personal, professional and global responsibility.”

The Board of Trustees has worked tirelessly for years on multiple fronts to address long-standing issues.

This includes refinancing debt, navigating a down market, strategically using Federal and State COVID-19 relief funds to maintain our mission during the pandemic, launching a Centennial fundraising campaign, pursuing two potential higher education partners for a possible merger or acquisition; and working closely with major donors and other stakeholders to raise additional revenue. These heroic efforts were not enough to close the financial gap in time to satisfy debt obligations and allow the school to continue to operate independently.

“We are all saddened by the need to make this decision, but rest assured that as we move forward, we are doing everything we can to ensure a smooth transition for our students to continue their education,” said Interim President John Smetanka.

MEC Commissioner Reid Amos released the following statement on Thursday evening.

“On behalf of the Mountain East Conference, we are deeply saddened by today’s announcement that Notre Dame College will conclude in-person instruction at the end of the 2024 spring semester, bringing a more than century-old tradition of higher education to a close.

“As a charter member of the league, we thank Notre Dame College for its steadfast membership and its numerous contributions that have enhanced the MEC over our first 11 years.

“Notre Dame College’s student-athletes, coaches, and administrators have enjoyed significant success within the conference, region, and nationally, including numerous NCAA postseason appearances.

“We thank NDC’s student-athletes for their commitment to their respective sport in our league. We also express our gratitude for the dedication and support of the coaches, institutional administrators, and staff in the athletic department. While we acknowledge the effects of membership change, our focus will be on extending both our support and sympathy to those who will face a loss of employment and students who will need to transition to a different academic opportunity.”