University Of Valley Forge To Shut Down Permanently

SCHUYLKILL TOWNSHIP, PA — The University of Valley Forge will shut down permanently at the end of the summer semester after 87 years in operation, they announced late Wednesday.

The move follows ongoing financial woes and a failure to forge a partnership that could create a sustainable path forward. The Board of Trustees said they "recognize the weight" of the announcement.

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"To our students, we are deeply sorry," the Board said Wednesday. "We understand that this announcement disrupts your lives, your plans, and your sense of stability, and we are grieving for you and with you. Please know that until the very last moment, we had significant reason to believe there was a sustainable path forward. However, that path did not materialize in time."

Founded as the Eastern Bible Institute in 1939, the Christian university began as a bible school before expanding its offerings.

However, the initial period of growth has been followed by decades of financial struggles in the modern era, fueled largely by a declining and very small student enrollment. Without an endowment cushion, they are nearly entirely reliant on student tuitions and fees to pay their bills.

Debts accumulated and the university financial health worsened, sparking more student transfers and more losses. It culminated recently when the Middle States Commission on Higher Education placed the university on show cause status, a severe measure where the university is expected to publicly "show cause" why it should not be shut down.

The Board said they are working with partner institutions and accrediting agencies to help students transfer credits and continue their education.

The university's website has further information on transcript services and transfer assistance, though the site was nonfunctional for much of Wednesday night due to high traffic.

"We are profoundly grateful for the faculty and staff who have served this community with extraordinary dedication, perseverance, and faithfulness," the Board added. "Through seasons of both blessing and challenge, you have invested deeply in the lives of our students and advanced the mission of this institution in countless ways."

The university's postal address is Phoenixville, but its campus is actually located in parts of both Schuylkill and Charlestown townships.