The two nonprofit universities remain focused on long-term sustainability and corresponding efforts to control the cost of higher 教育 and to increase student access. Through exploration of a strategic combination, the presidents say there could be opportunities to leverage shared administrative functions and economies of scale to achieve cost savings and more efficient operations.
“We have seen great collaboration between our two universities in recent years,” says Olson. “We both strongly value our students, 我们的社区, 我们的使命, and have seen the results that can come from expanding opportunities with other like-minded institutions. We must remain innovative in the current higher 教育 landscape and be proactive in our learner-centered approaches, rather than waiting to see what happens.”
Father Dennis Holtschneider and Dr. 多娜米. 卡罗尔, co-presidents for the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities, 同意, noting that this is precisely the type of proactive activity they have been encouraging colleges to explore. “We know these are challenging times for our colleges and universities,” says 卡罗尔. “We fully support the work St. Ambrose and Mount Mercy are doing to lead the way in creating a leading-edge, responsive and sustainable future for Catholic higher 教育.”
The two universities plan to expand conversations toward a potential strategic combination in the coming months, ensuring that all actions are conducted with appropriate due diligence and subject to all applicable regulatory and accrediting agency requirements.
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