READING, Pa. \u2014 Students at Alvernia and Marian universities could have opportunities to spend time on each other\u2019s campuses under a proposed deal that the Catholic schools announced Monday, amid a challenging time for higher education.<\/p>\n
Marian University has been part of its Wisconsin community for 90 years. If the deal goes through, it would become an Alvernia campus.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are an economic driver of this Fond du Lac community, and for us to go away, that\u2019d be a huge void,\u201d said Marian University President Aaron Sadoff.<\/p>\n
The deal would transfer the sponsorship of Marian University from the Congregation of Sisters of St. Agnes to the Bernardine Franciscan Sisters, who founded Alvernia as a college for the sisters in 1958. Alvernia later became a four-year liberal arts school.<\/p>\n
Marian was founded by the Sisters of St. Agnes in 1936.<\/p>\n
As Alvernia and Marian begin the formal process of bringing their universities together, they are committed to honoring Marian’s heritage and identity while exploring how shared resources, expertise and mission can strengthen both universities for the future.<\/p>\n
\u201cEvery college is in the same storm. We are [latching] our boats together so that we can be stronger throughout it,\u201d said Alvernia University President Glynis Fitzgerald.<\/p>\n
What would that look like in Wisconsin?<\/p>\n
\u201cWe will still be Marian. We\u2019ll become the Marian campus of Alvernia University, but we\u2019ll be blue and white,\u201d Sadoff said. \u201cWe\u2019re the Sabres.\u201d<\/p>\n
In Reading, classes and tuition will stay the same while the deal is reviewed. But what could students gain down the road?<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re looking forward to having students from both Marian and Alvernia working together on some of our alternative break programs, where they can make an even bigger impact in their communities,\u201d Fitzgerald said.<\/p>\n
Asked whether staff should expect any changes right away, Fitzgerald said, \u201cNothing at all. Nothing on either side.\u201d<\/p>\n
Both presidents told 69 News this is just the beginning of a process that could take about two years.<\/p>\n
\nCopyright 2026 Maranatha Broadcasting Co., Inc.. All Rights Reserved.\n<\/p>\n
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