The University of the Arts in Philadelphia announced its permanent closure on Friday, June 7, after nearly 150 years in operation.
Along with other U.S. art schools, the school has faced financial difficulties after the pandemic.
University of the Arts President Kerry Walk and Chair of the Board of Trustees Jonathan Aaron announced in a joint letter that the art school will cease on Friday, June 7, after the Middle States Commission of Higher Education withdrew its accreditation.
According to school administrators, the unexpected events shocked them and resulted in "significant, unanticipated expenses."
The Middle States Commission on Higher Education declared it was removing its accreditation after the University of the Arts informed the commission that it was planning to close. The commission also mentioned several other concerns about the school's accreditation status.
Aaron said there was no denying the University of the Arts' financial problems. The art school said, "But like many institutions of higher learning, UArts has been in a fragile financial state, with many years of declining enrollments, declining revenues, and increasing expenses."
He claimed that they had worked hard this year alongside many people to take steps that would secure the university's sustainability. He added that a town hall will be open to students, faculty, and staff on Monday, June 3.
Transfer students can enroll in other Philadelphia schools, including Temple University, Drexel University, and Moore College of Art and Design. University of the Arts has become the third Philadelphia art school to close in the last ten years.
The private art college Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts announced in January that it was ceasing its academic programs after over a decade of operation.
Furthermore, the commission revoked the Art Institute of Philadelphia's accreditation in 2018, and the larger college system declared in September that it would be closing all of its remaining campuses.
