Sacred Heart Backs Out Of University Of Bridgeport Takeover

FAIRFIELD, CT — Sacred Heart University has backed out of a partnership with two other colleges to take over the University of Bridgeport campus.

The school, citing financial concerns, disclosed Monday its decision not to follow through with the plan to operate certain programs at the Bridgeport location.

“Regretfully, after completing our due diligence and an attempt to verify the finances, we are unable to move forward with this acquisition,” President John Petillo said in a message to the Sacred Heart community.

Enrollment and financial projections provided by the University of Bridgeport when Sacred Heart signed a letter of intent, “did not materialize,” according to Petillo. Specifically, enrollment numbers were much lower than expected, he said.

“We made another offer, in line with the new projections, and that was turned down,” Petillo said.

Sacred Heart in late June announced plans to contribute to the restructuring of the Bridgeport campus under the name Bridgeport University Park in partnership with Goodwin University of East Hartford and Paier College of Art in Hamden.

Fairfield-based Sacred Heart committed to running the Bridgeport location's engineering program, as well as its doctorate in chiropractics and graduate program in nutrition, along with education certificates and a program in counselor education.

However, the Fairfield school's offerings dwindled, and Sacred Heart officials told a Bridgeport City Council committee last week that the college was expecting to run only one or two programs out of Bridgeport University Park, according to the Connecticut Post.

Goodwin University President Mark Scheinberg told the Post that Sacred Heart’s withdrawal will simplify the takeover, rather than hurting it. Goodwin is investing tens of millions of dollars in Bridgeport University Park, the Post reported. Scheinberg told the Post he is not overly concerned about the University of Bridgeport’s dip in enrollment.