We lament the closing of this historic place of higher learning and hold staff, faculty, students, and the community of Mount Pleasant in prayer. Below is the announcement of the closing of Iowa Wesleyan University.
Dear Iowa Wesleyan Community,
We have a difficult and painful decision to share about the future of our beloved Iowa Wesleyan University.
It is with deep sadness that we announce the Board of Trustees has made the decision to close Iowa Wesleyan University at the end of this academic year due to a lack of financial support. The decision is based on a combination of financial challenges - increased operating costs due to inflationary pressures, changing enrollment trends, a significant drop in philanthropic giving, and the rejection of a proposal for federal Covid funding by Governor Reynolds. As you can imagine, this is a profound decision that will be deeply felt by everyone in our community and throughout Southeast Iowa.
Our immediate priority is the students, faculty, and staff who embody Iowa Wesleyan today. We have secured four teach-out agreements with William Penn University, Upper Iowa University, University of Dubuque, and Culver-Stockton College so students can complete their degrees. The teach-out plans ensure the students can complete their program on time and for a comparable cost to Iowa Wesleyan. Additional teach-out agreements may be added.
President Plunkett and her leadership team will work closely with faculty and staff as the university prepares for closure. Several meetings will be held over the next week so everyone can develop a plan to secure new employment.
We honor and respect the history and legacy of Iowa Wesleyan, and we have much gratitude for the faculty and staff who have worked extremely hard and with remarkable resilience throughout our current financial circumstances. Many of our indicators were trending in a positive direction, but we needed more time and funding to complete a full recovery.
We are tremendously proud of the innovative educational model Iowa Wesleyan University built to serve our rural area and provide an influx of graduating students, many of whom remain in the region to live and work. We are disappointed Governor Reynolds did not approve funding for Iowa Wesleyan through her Empower Rural Iowa Initiative.
The Board and administrative leadership understand you will have many questions and emotions around this announcement. We acknowledge that you will want answers about your future, and we will have a website to provide initial Q&A information and resources for students, faculty, staff, alumni and community partners to outline the path going forward.
Please note that we are committed to serving all students through the end of this term and will work tirelessly to create a smooth transition to another college or university.
It is with both gratitude and sadness that we share this announcement. Thank you, in advance, for your caring support for each other as we move forward during this difficult time. Today and tomorrow… We are Wesleyan!
Sincerely,
Robert Miller ’83, Chair, Iowa Wesleyan Board of Trustees
Christine Plunkett, President, Iowa Wesleyan University
