A sad reality check for higher education: Trinity Christian College, a fixture in suburban Palos Heights for over six decades, is shutting its doors at the end of this academic year. But what led to this heartbreaking decision? Let's dive in.
Trinity Christian College, located at 6601 West College Drive in Palos Heights, will cease operations after a commendable 66-year run. The core reasons, as revealed by school leaders, are financial woes stemming from a combination of factors. These include a decline in student enrollment, a decrease in donations, and persistent financial deficits. The college's website poignantly states that they've been "financially impacted by fast-evolving economic and cultural realities: post-Covid financial losses; persistent operating deficits; a decline in college enrollment and increased competition for students; and a shift in donor giving and financial circumstances."
Understandably, the news came as a shock to the student body. Zachary Coppin, an international student and senior, shared his disbelief with NBC Chicago, saying, "It was a shock, I woke up and it was just like we got the email the school was closing down." He described seeing many students in tears, offering each other comfort.
The college's leadership, including Acting President Jeanine Mozie and Chair of the Board of Trustees Ken Dryfhout, addressed the closure in a video released on their website. The Board of Trustees, after "intense deliberation and prayerful discernment," voted to close the college at the end of this academic year, according to Dryfhout. Mozie added that despite their best efforts, there was no viable path forward for the institution.
But here's where it gets controversial... The school explored various alternatives, such as "significant programmatic changes, strategic partnerships, and the like," but ultimately determined these options were insufficient to overcome their financial challenges while maintaining their mission. Dryfhout, a 2003 Trinity graduate, emphasized the personal impact of the decision, noting that the school has been a part of his family for generations, with his parents also being alumni who even married on campus.
The Class of 2026 will be the final graduating class from Trinity. Currently, the college has 769 enrolled students. Many of them are now facing the daunting task of figuring out their next steps to complete their degrees. Danny Staskunas, a junior finance major, told NBC Chicago that he would be "starting over" if he transferred elsewhere.
To aid students, the college has already established teach-out agreements with other institutions, which will provide enhanced credit, tuition, and degree-completion projections. The most up-to-date information on these agreements can be found on the college's website.
And this is the part most people miss... All of the college's buildings and its 130-acre campus will be sold to settle debts.
What are your thoughts on this closure? Do you think the college could have done anything differently? Share your opinions in the comments below!**
