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Officials from Drexel University<\/a> and the Academy of Natural Sciences were scheduled to meet Friday to continue discussing a path forward \u2014 with a potential split of the two organizations hovering over talks as one possibility.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s certainly a [potential] outcome,\u201d said one source familiar with the situation who requested anonymity because they weren\u2019t authorized to speak on the matter. <\/p>\n But there likely also will be \u201creconciliation attempts,\u201d the source said. \u201cWe either abide by the terms that we have been talking about or don\u2019t.\u201d If both two sides abide by the terms, they said, \u201cthen everything continues peacefully.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00bb READ MORE: Let\u2019s talk: Drexel University responds to William Penn\u2019s offer on the Academy of Natural Sciences<\/a><\/p>\n The Academy and Drexel announced an affiliation<\/a> in 2011, merging aspects of their operations but keeping separate boards. The Inquirer reported in April<\/a> that Drexel told the Academy to either fully merge with the university or it would move to disaffiliate, and the two have been negotiating a new affiliation agreement. <\/p>\n Neither the Academy<\/a> nor Drexel returned calls early Friday evening seeking comment on whether the meeting had ended and its outcome.<\/p>\n Drexel and the Academy disclosed plans in September to close <\/a>the Academy museum, move the 19 million specimens in the collection<\/a>, and eventually sell the building at 19th Street and the Ben Franklin Parkway.<\/p>\n A group of protesters earlier this week gathered at the same time as a Drexel board meeting and called on the university to disaffiliate and give the Academy a chance to negotiate what\u2019s best for it. <\/p>\n Drexel spokesperson Niki Gianakaris said earlier this week that the university had offered the Academy a path to disaffiliation. <\/p>\n \u00bb READ MORE: The Academy of Natural Sciences museum is closing, but all eyes are on its specimens \u2014 all 19 million of them<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cWe have been, and remain, open to that possibility,\u201d she said. \u201cWe continue to engage in good-faith discussions with the Academy about its future.\u201d<\/p>\n Her comments came days after the William Penn Foundation <\/a>made public its offer to underwrite operating costs for at least a year and keep the museum\u2019s doors open while a permanent solution can be worked on.<\/p>\n