1.) To what extent will Marylhurst provide a “teach-out” beyond summer 2018 for students who can’t easily advance their academic careers through other means? I’m thinking particularly of art therapy students.

Marylhurst is providing courses this summer for students who are able to graduate under that timeline. We are not able financially to provide coursework at beyond that. We are required to have a “teach-out plan” by our accrediting body, NWCCU (the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities), that includes a description of what we are doing to help students finish their programs. We have been working with NWCCU to ensure that we have a satisfactory teach-out plan.

Marylhurst University’s “teach-out plan” has three components and has been verified as appropriate by NWCCU.

1. Summer Term: Marylhurst will remain open to help students make progress towards completion of, or to complete, their programs of study. Our analysis shows that between 80 and 125 students can complete their degrees during summer term. If at all possible, Marylhurst will scholarship students for these classes.

2. Teach-Out Agreements: These are “written agreements between institutions that are accredited or pre-accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting agency…” These agreements might include an agreement to accept a cohort of students or the transfer of an entire program provided that the accepting institution can meet their governing and accreditation bodies’ requirements.

3. Student Transfers: Students are able to transfer to complete their degrees at the institution of their choice. We are doing everything we can to help facilitate this and make the process easy for them to navigate. (See question #4 for additional information.)

2.) Does the University agree that a “teach-out” is a requirement for some Marylhurst students under federal law and the University’s accreditation rules? It appears to be a requirement under the federal Higher Education Opportunity Act, as summarized by the NWCCU.

(Please see response to question #1.)

3.) I have heard that students have been asked to “contact an advisor” as a first step. I’m told that there are too few advisors, and students can’t get appointments for several weeks. Response?

We have held two student Q&A sessions and are offering one-on-one meetings with advisers, given every student’s situation is unique. Our advisers have also extended their regular advising hours to be available most weekdays from 8:30 a.m. through 7 p.m.

When we learned some students were having trouble finding appointment times that worked for their schedules, we opened up additional advising appointments by bringing in two degree completion coordinators for support. We have increased availability by 40 percent, and this resulted in additional advising appointments opening for students this week as well as into next week.

4.) Please provide a list of the “23 institutions” that attended the “transfer fair,” with the programs they’re connecting to. Are there programs not available at the represented institutions?

More than 200 people attended the Student Transfer Information Session on Thursday at Marylhurst University.

The following institutions attended:

1. California Institute of Integral Studies (online and on-ground): Acceptance of all Marylhurst units for UG, admission fee waiver, expedited admissions process 2. Concordia University: 100% of MU credits transferrable, undergraduate and graduate students receive a scholarship for 50% tuition, good for on-campus and online degree programs; guaranteed admission for students in good academic standing; instant admission decisions will be given, VA benefits and scholarships 3. 4. Eastern University: Waived application fee and on-the-spot admission, up to 25 quarter credits transfer, unofficial transcript evaluation and advising 5. : Adult Degree Completion Program will accept 100% undergraduate credits; waived application fees; will expedite applications 6. Lewis & Clark College: Waived application fee and financial aid may be available 7. Linfield College: Waived application fee, on-the-spot admission, unofficial transcript evaluation (GPA 3.0 or greater and 12+ credits) 8. Mt. Hood Community College 9. : Waived application fee and $1,000 scholarship available for full-time, on-ground students 10. Northwest Christian University: Most MBA, MAT or MEd, extended application deadline, Prior Learning Assessment 11. Oregon College of Art and Craft: Reduced application fee 12. Oregon Health & Science University 13. Oregon Institute of Technology 14. : Select OSU programs will waive application fees; expedited admission process; waiving some admission entrance tests; review all applicants for transfer credit 15. Pacific Northwest College of Art 16. : Advising support, expedited application, application fee waivers, residency requirements waived, block transfer of core requirements, scholarships may be available, full VA benefits 17. Portland State University: Waiving application fees for undergraduate and graduate students; will expedite applications; instant admission decisions will be given; all non-vocational credits will transfer (undergraduate) 18. Prescott College: Waived application fee, online and on-ground courses 19. : Waived application fee, expedited application process 20. Southern Oregon University: Waived application fee for UG and online MBA, on-the-spot admissions for MBA 21. St. Martin’s University: Waived application fee, on-the-spot admissions, expedited admissions, UG up to $10,000 scholarship in addition to merit scholarship or $333/credit 22. : Application deadline extended, expedited application process 23. Warner Pacific College: Waived application fees, on-the-spot admissions, tuition grant, residency requirement waived 24. Western Oregon University 25. : Liberal arts and MBA application fee waived, scholarship information, veteran services

The Art Therapy program at Marylhurst University is the only program of its kind in the state, and we are exploring whether the program could possibly move to another institution in the area. Several represented institutions have expressed an interest in working with us on a “teach-out agreement” for these students. We are also in discussion with two other high-quality programs in Art Therapy (one in California and one in Washington).

5.) I have heard that a lack of general requirement classes – such as foreign language and science – may provide a barrier to transfer for some students. Is that true, or is it more the case that students will simply have to take those classes at the new institution?

Peer institutions are assisting our students in different ways, and many are making special considerations regarding how Marylhurst students complete their general requirements as transfer students. We recommend that students discuss this thoroughly with peer institution advisers and select the best option for their situation.

6.) Are there examples of entire programs or departments that may shift to other institutions? 6b.) If so, what are those?

Art Therapy is an example of a program that could shift to another institution. We are actively exploring options, and no plans have been finalized.

7.) Does the Board of Trustees intend to release recent and current budget documents to help show the financial duress of the University?

The Board of Trustees has been receiving many requests for information and will consider these requests at their next meeting.

Marylhurst University’s 990s are public information.

8.) Does the Board of Trustees intend to release minutes of recent meetings to provide transparency around the closure decision, as requested by some students?

The Board of Trustees has been receiving many requests for information and will consider these requests at their next meeting.

9.) Members of the University community say leadership approved and initiated several expensive renovations of campus buildings in recent years, as finances were tightening. Please provide information on recent capital spending.

As part of its Renewed Vision and turnaround plan, Marylhurst University invested in two capital projects: a facelift renovation of a comprehensive Student Services area, which allowed us to relocate all student services to the BP John Administration Building. Coordinated services and cross-training for student services staff was part of the broader strategy for improving student retention rates. This project was budgeted at $200,000 and cost $186,827.

In addition, Marylhurst began a renovation project on the Villa Maria dorm, which was strategically important to the University’s Renewed Vision. Villa Maria, with 54 rooms, would have been used for a combination of short-stay accommodations (to support low-residency graduate program, events and conferences and overflow accommodation requests from Mary’s Woods) and full-time residency for students. This investment would have generated a significant ROI in future years and would have helped to diversify our revenues (we are currently 93% funded by tuition). The project was begun at the start of January, as planned. When ongoing analysis revealed that revenue projections for the year would be off because of enrollment decreases, Trustees voted to pause the project in order to preserve financial resources and protect staff and faculty from budget cuts in the FY17-18 fiscal year. Villa Maria was budgeted at $2.36 million; $230,000 was spent before the project was put on hold.

10.) Students in the ELW program feel misled, contending that the University was promoting a new Masters of Fine Arts in Creative Writing (as well as other new graduate programs), while the University was not communicating its declining financial situation. Response?

As part of its plans to turn around the University, Marylhurst’s Renewed Vision called for the launch of new programs. Faculty created and approved a new, low-residency Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing, which received approval from the Board of Trustees in fall of 2017. Promotion was scheduled to begin in January 2018, with a program launch in January 2019.

Marylhurst was very excited about this program brought forth by faculty; it embodied the Renewed Vision in the way it combined a quality low-residency graduate program with public programs that would have helped to enliven the campus.

Unfortunately, the promotion of the program coincided with the ongoing analysis that showed that revenue projections would be lower than expected.

It should be noted that faculty were well aware of this problem as all managers, directors, chairs and leadership were engaged in a campus-wide budgeting process to solve the University’s deficit problem.

11.) The University apparently sent messages to students entering the ELW program in fall 2017, informing students that the program was ending. Please provide that message and explain why it was sent. 11b.) What changed in the following days or weeks that led to a reversal? Please provide that message, as well.

In fall of 2017, there were at least four options under which students could complete the ELW program. These included online delivery, on-ground delivery, a literature concentration and a creative writing concentration. Among each of these four options, the number of students was not sufficient to reach program minimums and matriculate students. This was communicated to students and faculty.

As a result of the English faculty’s willingness to streamline the curriculum, the four options were merged into a single pathway that resulted in having sufficient numbers to move forward. Students were contacted and matriculated that fall.

12.) Is the University aware of any pending legal action related to the decision to close?

We are not.

13.) Did Marylhurst cancel introductory courses – at least in Music Therapy, but possible other programs – which had the effect of interrupting students’ progress?

Courses that were cancelled due to under-enrollment were available for students to take at the community college level, saving them money and allowing us to focus our faculty expertise at the upper division level.