A group of Connecticut colleges has announced a plan to keep the University of Bridgeport viable by locating some of their academic programs on the school's 86-acre campus near Long Island Sound.
The University of Bridgeport is a 93-year-old private institution that has experienced financial difficulties in recent years.
Governor Ned Lamont says he’s excited that Sacred Heart University, Goodwin University and Paier College of Art plan to move some of their programs to the UB campus.
“It’s a little bit like a food court. You can get some amazing life science out of what Goodwin is bringing here. Some of the best and the brightest. And Sacred Heart in terms of technology and entrepreneurship, right down the way. Paier in terms of the arts and how they all collaborate. And right here you get them all at the University of Bridgeport.”
Sacred Heart University President John Petillo says the UB campus would become what he calls a university park.
“This is not a salvage operation. This is an enhancement opportunity for all of us.”
Mark Scheinberg, president of Goodwin University, says it will be an expensive venture.
“We don’t know until the end of due diligence, but it’s in the tens of millions of dollars.”
The schools expect to work it all out in about 18 months.
Disclosure: Sacred Heart University is the licensee of WSHU Public Radio.
