Rider Looking To Sell Westminster Choir College, Princeton Campus

LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ — Rider University is looking to sell the Westminster Choir College and the college’s Princeton campus, University President Greg Dell'Omo announced on Tuesday.

The decision came after the Board of Trustees concluded at its meeting on Tuesday that "neither keeping Westminster at its current location in Princeton, nor consolidating Westminster onto the Lawrenceville campus would achieve the strategic goals of the university."

The university had been considering closing the Princeton campus and consolidating its students onto the Lawrenceville site in order to avoid a possible $13.1 million deficit by 2019.

Ultimately, Rider decided to partner with an outside firm to explore several options aimed at preserving Westminster’s strong legacy, officials said in a statement.

In a recorded video posted on YouTube, Dell'Omo said the ideal scenario is to sell the college to an institution that will keep the programs going on the Princeton campus. However, the university will also consider selling it to an institution that will be willing to continue to operate the programs at another location.

That process is expected to take about 12 months.

"This is an emotional decision," Dell'Omo said in the video. "Westminster Choir College has been a centerpiece of Rider University for a number of years."

He said the university recognizes the history, quality and tradition of the college, which was established in 1926, moved to its current location in 1932 and has been a part of Rider since 1992.

"I know there will be a fair amount of interest," Dell'Omo said.

The full video, titled "Rider University-The Path Forward" can be found below.

“We recognize the impact that today’s announcement has – and will continue to have – on the Westminster community,” Rider University Board of Trustees Chair Michael Kennedy said in the statement. “We understand that this uncertainty is unsettling, particularly given the strong traditions, history and passion associated with Rider’s Princeton campus. The Board did not make this decision lightly and took into account the thoughtful feedback from the campus community and all of its stakeholders.”

“Since Rider’s merger with Westminster in 1992, the University as a whole has made tremendous strides,” Dell’Omo said in the statement. “Rider University invested in the growth of Westminster and made it a better place of learning. Today, it’s time to take Westminster to a new, stronger level by finding an institution ready to build on its history of excellence.”

Prior to Tuesday’s meeting, the Coalition to Save Westminster Choir College and the Rider University Chapter of the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) held a protest on the university’s campus.

Those protesters were silent as the members of the Board of Trustees showed up for their meeting, then sang Peter Christian Lutkin's choral benediction, "The Lord Bless You and Keep You," to Dell'Omo when he arrived, according to nj.com. That song is sung at important events and concludes many of the college's choral concerts.

After the meeting, protesters took Dell'Omo's announcement as a sign of victory.

In October, Rider established a special committee consisting of 11 trustees. The committee included Westminster alumni and members of the university senior staff, and was known as the Westminster Special Committee.

From the outset of this study, the committee was charged with exploring a one-campus model, focused on the feasibility of relocating Westminster to the University’s Lawrenceville campus without sacrificing Westminster’s unique elements which directly influence the student experience.

In the course of a number of meetings over a period of four months, the committee determined it was both appropriate and necessary to broaden the analysis to consider which actions would best position the overall university for growth.

In an effort to prevent the Princeton campus from being shut down altogether, the Coalition immediately took up the fight to keep the college open, including making a case that the campus deserves historic designation.

However, Rider officials said at the time that that argument would have no bearing on its decision on whether to consolidate the Princeton campus into the Lawrenceville campus.

The Coalition also hosted a 24-hour music marathon on the Princeton campus to bring attention to the situation.

"The Board of Trustees and the Administration are confident that these actions will help preserve and enhance both Westminster and Rider University as a whole," officials said. "This decision will enable the University to move strongly towards a brighter future and continue to provide a high-quality experience to current and future students."