Kenyan students at Cardinal Stritch University in Milwaukee were, on Monday, April 10, notified of the institution's abrupt closure via email.
President Dan Scholz declared that the institution would shut down by May 2023 after a decision was reached by the sponsors, St Francis of Assisi, following a recommendation by the University Board of Trustees.
"The physical realities, downward enrollment trends, the pandemic, the need for more resources, and the mounting operational facility challenges presented a no-win situation," Sholz told the students.
Scholz noted that the institution could no longer provide the high-quality educational experiences that the student deserves.
However, the institution would provide academic services to students about to complete their studies and enable them to graduate.
Kenyan Computer Science student Paul Kolenyo lamented that the sudden news left a number of students in a dilemma. Most of them, including him, were considering returning to Kenya to further their studies.
"It was shocking. We first thought it was April Fools but it is not. It is very devastating," Kolenyo stated.
Several of his colleagues stated that they were looking into several options, including applying for transfers to other universities in America.
Cardinal Stritch hosted about 1,300 students, 45 per cent of whom were under scholarship. It also had 208 faculty members who were rendered jobless following the announcement.
The institution, established in 1937 by the Roman Catholic Church, offered more than 60 undergraduate and postgraduate degree programs.
Some courses offered included business, education, liberal arts, leadership, nursing, and sciences.
