A private university in the Chicago area has announced it will shut down at the end of this semester, leaving students and teachers stunned as they prepare for final exams.
Fox 32 Chicago reports that Officials at Oak Point University, which has campuses in Chicago and suburban Oak Brook, surprised the school community with only three weeks' notice of the closure.
The school specialized in nursing and health sciences. Formerly known as West Suburban Hospital School and Resurrection University, the university was established in 1914. Its Chicago location shares space with Saint Elizabeth Hospital.
In an email sent on her behalf, Oak Point University President Therese Scanlan stated that "it is with a heavy heart" she must share "the university will close Friday, April 19th."
She didn't elaborate, but Scanlan added that the decision "comes in response to a series of factors that have affected the University."
In her memo, Scanlan also wrote: "Despite the tireless efforts of our faculty, staff, and the unwavering support of our alumni and friends, the challenges we face are beyond what we can surmount in our current form."
According to the Higher Learning Commission's website, Oak Point’s accreditation – while still current – was being monitored in the last year for low pass rates on NCLEX exams (a board examination that is required to become a registered nurse or a licensed practical nurse).
