Lawmakers introduce measures to hold colleges like UArts accountable for sudden closures

PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — After the University of the Arts suddenly shuttered its doors earlier this year, Pennsylvania Democrats are working to prevent other colleges from doing the same.

“It is not normal for me at age 22 to blame myself for the mistakes of people twice my age,” said Alex McFadden, who graduated from the University of the Arts in the spring before its sudden June closure. “It is not normal for hundreds of people to be fired over Zoom via a scripted speech. It is not normal for students to have to start the process of reapplying to colleges and programs within days.”

Faculty and students were given just a week’s notice.

“The situation with the University of the Arts exposed a pretty wide gap in our state law,” said state Rep. Ben Waxman, which left students and staff floundering.

Waxman and other lawmakers worked on legislation in this year’s state budget that he said will “ensure orderly closures, teach-out plans, and preservation of student and administrative records.”

“There were no clear procedures for closure that were required,” Waxman explained. “There were no preservation of records and plans, and no notification and accountability.”

The state budget now sets a deadline of July 1, 2026, for the state Board of Education to create standard procedures for schools of higher learning in order to protect students and staff.

“Colleges and universities are announcing closures at a rate of about one every week,” said state Sen. Nikil Saval, who voiced support for the measures. “This thrusts students into precarious positions with loans but without degrees.”

The changes, while welcome, are too late for higher education employees like Madison Claus, a former UArts administrative assistant and union organizer.

“I stayed at UArts despite the low pay and despite being always overworked because I believed it was a special place where interdisciplinary art could flourish,” she said. So when news spread of its impending closure, she was devastated.

“As a full-time staff member I was shocked, and as an alum I was heartbroken.”