Long Island's Dowling College Closing

OAKDALE, NY - In the midst of massive debt and declining enrollment, Long Island's Dowling College will shut down on Friday, June 3, the college announced on Tuesday.

“As painful as this announcement is we want the student body, faculty and alumni to know that we made every effort to form a suitable academic affiliation so that we could keep the college open,” Dowling College President Albert Inserra said in a statement.

The 48-year-old private liberal arts school is in debt of about $54 million and enrollment at the school, which is located on the former estate of William K. Vanderbilt in Oakdale, has declined by 50 percent since 2009, according to an AP report.

“Unfortunately, despite months of lengthy negotiations we were unable to form such an affiliation, and our only option is to cease operations," Inserra said. "This painful decision is a reflection of the unprecedented financial challenges facing countless private educational institutions across the nation and the difficult choices that many must now face.”

The announcement comes on the same day summer classes were supposed to begin at Dowling.

"For those students counting on summer sessions to complete their degrees, information on how they may be accomplished will be available to you as soon as possible," a message on the college's website states.

College officials say they are working on a teach-out agreement with Rockville Centre-based Molloy College that would allow current Dowling students to finish their degrees at Molloy, according to News 12.

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