PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 21, 2024
Union Institute & University is permanently closing its doors.
CINCINNATI, Ohio - Union Institute & University (UNION) has been proudly serving adult students for the past 60 years. It has been dedicated to engage, enlighten, and empower students toward a lifetime of service, built on a philosophy of social-connectedness, social justice, and social responsibility.
UNION has always been a unique institution, driven by its founders' forward-looking vision: to graduate adult students who will make a difference and transform themselves and their communities.
Now, a little over 60 years since its inception, the UNION Board of Trustees decided to close the beloved university. This closure will take effect on June 30, 2024. Additionally, the university has chosen to voluntarily withdraw its accreditation with the Higher Learning Commission, effective June 25, 2024.
These actions ensure the following:
- All students who have graced this “university without walls” continue to maintain their well-earned records of earning credits or degrees at a fully accredited university, a university that takes pride in the opportunities it has provided to our students throughout the years.
- All current students have been placed with universities that have similar missions to UNION and have agreed to match our current tuition and accept all credits earned at UNION. Residency requirements have been relaxed so that no UNION student will need to spend more time
completing their degree than the time already required at UNION.
- All transcripts will be available to all students indefinitely. Initially, transcripts can be obtained here (myunion.edu/request-transcript/). In the future, this link will be managed by a contracted agency to ensure that transcripts are always accessible.
The world has changed significantly over the past 60 years. UNION has always advocated for distance and adult learning. We were pioneers in higher education, pushing for the acceptance of non-traditional learners into its framework. The post-pandemic world has brought about changes in higher education. Nearly all universities now acknowledge the potential of adult learners and recognize the opportunities presented by distance learning. As we move forward, we take pride in knowing that we have left our mark on the world of higher education.
Farewell!
