What is the Time Frame for the Shuttering of the Westminster Choir College Princeton Campus? Will Dell Omo unequivocally state at the Thursday Forum that Westminister will be in Princeton through 2017-2018 and 2018-2019?

In a recent campus wide letter to students from the WCC SGA it was stated:

“This process would take several years to come to fruition. The study has just recently begun and progress on the study will be reported to the Board of Trustees in late February. No decisions will be made until the study is completed. The President has shared his commitment to allowing the process to take all the time it needs so the right outcome can be determined.”

This SGA / administration letter is misleading because it implies that the shuttering of WCC in Princeton will not happen during the next and possibly even following school year.

However, understanding how real estate marketing works would suggest that any business interests, public entity or private interests that is looking to expend 10s of millions to purchase the campus would likely want to take possession of the property as soon as they expend their millions, so that they can begin to re-purpose the property toward their needs and make the most of their real estate investment.

As Dell Omo / administration has framed its desire to sell the property as a response to an emergency in the finances of Rider University, that suggests that administration is seeking the funds sooner than later – also suggesting an earlier time table to turn over the Princeton property to the buyer.

It is likely true that it would take years to properly prepare the Lawrenceville campus for a fully functional choir college, if the property were to be turned over early – as would likely be needed to meet administration’s aggressive demand for a budget solution, it means that the Princeton campus could end up shuttered before Lawrenceville is even ready to fully support Westminister Choir College facility wise and in every other way,  This process could be a blueprint for a total disaster for Westminster.  We could end up with a couple of years of a half baked choir college – resulting in declining enrollment and a stained reputation nationally and internationally.

There was no confirmation in the SGA letter or from any other administrative source that the Princeton campus would not be shuttered as soon as the sale is complete.  There has been no authoritative statement from Dell Omo or administration that “The 2017 – 2018 year (and the 2018 – 2019 year) will not be impacted."  Without such clear assurance - it is misleading to try to reassure that the process will take years and not impact one or two of the next school years.

If 2017-2019 were not going to be impacted, the administration would certainly announce it because such an announcement would reduce the number of current students directly impacted by the proposed shuttering of Princeton.  That there has been no such announcement at this point, suggests that Dell Omo / Administration is keeping all options available.  Of course Rider’s flexibility in this regard – to be willing to turn over the property sooner – would optimize its marketing position on the property which is the apparent priority of the administration.  No doubt, Rider has serious potential buyers in place and is negotiating with them each day.

If it is true as SGA is trying to lead on that the process will take years and the 2017-18 year (and the subsequent year) would definitely not be impacted – the administration should state that clearly.  It would actually help the administration in selling the issue to the students if 1/3 or 2/3 of the directly affected student body were to learn that they will not be impacted after all.

Until any such pronouncement – IT BEHOOVES ALL CURRENT STUDENTS, FAMILIES, FACULTY AND STAFF AT WCC TO ASSUME THE WORST – that the campus could be shuttered during 2017 – 2018 school year AND that the shuttering could occur before Lawrenceville could even be ready to accommodate the relocation process facility-wise.

Therefore – students, faculty, familes, staff and alumni need to hold steady to the demand:

NO CLOSING OF THE WESTMINSTER CHOIR COLLEGE PRINCETON CAMPUS – BLOCK THE MOVE!

Update January 20, 2016

The following is in response to someone that has criticized my asking of the above question:

We were told to ask questions of the Rider U president in the SGA letter to Westminster students. This question needs to be asked. Students at Westminster right now have a right to know where Westminster classes will be conducted in 2017-18 - as do those who have applications pending or have accepted offers from Westminster. That is basic appropriate treatment of those investing a quarter million or so in the college over a 4 year period. It behooves the administration to put this question aside by answering the question - where will the classes be 2017-18?

This is a basic fundamental question that we deserve an answer to.

This is in the interest of protecting the integrity and trust of the university and the community

Full honest disclosure is what needs to be insisted upon.