St. Ambrose, Mount Mercy consider ‘strategic combination’

“We are better together.” That’s the word from Todd Olson, president of Mount Mercy University in Cedar Rapids, as that school and St. Ambrose University in Davenport have confirmed they are in talks to eventually merge both universities in what the schools are calling an “innovative strategic combination.” While that combination deal is in the […]

“We are better together.” That’s the word from Todd Olson, president of Mount Mercy University in Cedar Rapids, as that school and St. Ambrose University in Davenport have confirmed they are in talks to eventually merge both universities in what the schools are calling an “innovative strategic combination.”

While that combination deal is in the works, the universities have agreed to an immediate separate plan that will allow students from both schools to take courses from either university beginning this fall. Under the bigger strategic combination, the two universities could agree to a plan by June or July – and it could be finalized in two years – school officials told the QCBJ in a phone interview Friday, May 3. The plans were unveiled publicly today.  If the plan comes together, both university campuses would remain open with two separate academic programs and separate athletic programs, said Amy Novak, the president of St. Ambrose. At this point, it’s too early to predict if there will be job cuts on the two campuses under the combination plan. “There may be growth,” Ms. Novak added. “In the current higher education environment, this type of work represents a bold and proactive approach to capitalize on the current academic and financial strength of both Mount Mercy and St. Ambrose,” Ms. Novak said in a news release. The two universities plan to expand conversations in the coming weeks toward a potential strategic combination, ensuring that all actions are conducted with appropriate due diligence and subject to all applicable regulatory and accrediting agency requirements, according to a joint release from the universities. Mr. Olson told the QCBJ that if the schools agree to the combination this summer, it will probably take another two years for the universities to get approval from regulatory agencies before the plan is finalized. The St. Ambrose president added that talks on the combination plan “started as a conversation of possibilities” to help students and help the schools face changing times. The two not-for-profit universities remain focused on long-term sustainability and corresponding efforts to control the cost of higher education and to increase student access, according to information from the universities. Through exploration of the strategic combination, the two presidents say there could be opportunities to leverage shared administrative functions to achieve cost savings and more efficient operations. “We have seen great collaboration between our two universities in the recent years,” said Mr. Olson in the release. “We both strongly value our students, our communities, and our missions, and have seen the results that can come from expanding opportunities with other like-minded institutions. We must remain innovative in the current higher education landscape and be proactive in our learner-centered approaches, rather than waiting to see what happens.” The Rev. Dennis Holtschneider and Donna M. Carroll, co-presidents for the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities, agree, noting that this is precisely the type of proactive activity they have been encouraging colleges to explore.  “We know these are challenging times for our colleges and universities,” Ms. Carroll said in the release announcing the strategic combination. “We fully support the work St. Ambrose and Mount Mercy are doing to lead the way in creating a leading-edge, responsive and sustainable future for Catholic higher education.” While the two universities move toward a possible combination, they have already agreed to a plan that allows students to take a range of courses from either university, whether in-person, or in a hybrid or online format beginning this fall. This arrangement, which was approved by each university’s board of trustees, will lead to more pathways for students at both institutions. The two universities also are in the process of finalizing a second agreement that will facilitate the seamless transition of qualified students from undergraduate to graduate degree programs. Collectively, this includes pathways into 18 separate graduate programs as well as a variety of certificate and degree completion programs for adult learners. For more than a year, the two institutions have been discussing opportunities to collaborate in an effort to increase affordability and access to quality education for traditional students and adult learners alike. Anticipated student benefits include:

• The potential to reduce time to degree completion.
• Expanded opportunities to move seamlessly from undergraduate programs into graduate programs in healthcare, engineering, marriage and family therapy, social work, public health, education, and business.
• A strengthened core curriculum focused on holistic formation, and the development of ethical decision-making frameworks grounded in the Catholic tradition of both universities.
• New opportunities for adult learners to complete degrees, obtain certificates, and upskill themselves to be more competitive in the labor market.
• New benefits and possibilities for the Quad Cities and Cedar Rapids communities.

“In the current higher education environment, this type of work represents a bold and proactive approach to capitalize on the current academic and financial strength of both Mount Mercy and St. Ambrose,” Ms. Novak said in the release. St. Ambrose University’s roots go back to 1882. The school has more than 2,100 undergraduate students. Mount Mercy University was founded in 1928. It has more than 1,500 students enrolled.