A Case Study in Closing a University With Order and Dignity by Upholding Core Values

Fontbonne University, a small, Catholic university in suburban St. Louis, has struggled, like many similar tuition-dependent universities, with years of financial challenges. After attempts to either grow enrollment independently or partner with or merge into another university, the university announced in March 2024 that it no longer had the financial resources to continue its mission and would close in August 2025. The authors, who comprise the planning team for the closure, offer a glimpse into a university closure that was intentionally planned to provide the best possible outcomes for students and employees in alignment with the institution's mission. In this chapter, the authors share the background that brought Fontbonne University to the point of closure and provide a timeline of the process, highlighting the importance of early planning if closure is a possibility. The authors also describe the communication plan and the efforts taken to support students and employees. The chapter concludes with the lessons learned while closing a university with order and dignity.