Oakland City University not closing, spokesperson says – Inside INdiana Business

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photo courtesy of Oakland City University

Oakland City University said this week that a “strategic partnership” will allow it to continue operating despite earlier reports that the university would be shutting down.

The university confirmed the partnership with our partners at WEHT-TV Channel 25, saying classes will resume this fall.

“We’re creating a strategic alliance at partnership with a corporation that wants to be a participant in Oakland City University in Oakland City and be a part of our campus,” Todd Mosby, associate vice president for development, marketing and communications at OCU, said in a statement to WEHT.

The university did not provide the name of the partnering corporation, but Mosby said an announcement will be made soon.

The Courier & Press in Evansville said the announcement of the partnership came just hours after some OCU employees were reportedly told that the university was closing.

Last month, Oakland City University said nearly 170 employees could potentially be laid off as the school deals with “ongoing financial challenges.”

The university filed a WARN notice with the Indiana Department of Workforce Development saying it will conduct a mass layoff beginning June 1, but spokesperson Todd Mosby said at that time the filing is only a precautionary measure.

The university declined to provide more specific details on the financial challenges it is facing.

However, OCU employees have seen their paychecks delayed for over a week due to a bank transfer issue, according to WEHT. Mosby told the station the university is will working on that issue but a timeline for a resolution was not given.

Oakland City University is a private higher education institution with 505 full-time undergraduate students enrolled as of Fall 2024, according to the university’s website. The university is located in Gibson County, about 40 miles from Evansville and about 140 miles southwest of Indianapolis.

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