Lake Effect Special 5/18/23: Cardinal Stritch University Closure

By Audrey Nowakowski,

Published May 17, 2023 at 10:03 AM CDT

Cardinal Stritch University will close at the end of the semester.

Cardinal Stritch University is holding its final commencement May 20, 2023, before closing its doors.

On this special episode, Lake Effect's Audrey Nowakowski and WUWM education reporter Emily Files dive into Stritch's upcoming closure and the impact this is having on the greater community.

Stritch President Dr. Dan Scholz talks about the decision to close the university, historian Sara Woelfel takes us back to it's founding in 1937, students Sebastian Rios and Justin Roby share how they are scrambling to figure out how to continue their education, and former employees Monica Kling-Garcia and Kelley Kling discuss the special significant of Stritch for their family.

President Dan Scholz says as Cardinal Stritch's enrollment continued to decline, it couldn't keep relying on reserves to pay its operating deficit. "It's not sustainable anymore," he says.

Emily Files

WUWM

Here is Cardinal Stritch President Dan Scholz's explanation for the university's sudden closure

Stritch’s enrollment has plummeted from about 6,000 students in 2010 to just over 1,000 this year. The Franciscan institution has operated at a deficit almost every year in the last decade, according to tax statements.

Pictured is a picnic with Sisters of St. Francis of Assisi and Cardinal Stritch students in 1968

Photo courtesy of Cardinal Stritch University archives

It starts with the Sisters: The history of Cardinal Stritch University

Cardinal Stritch University historian Sara Woelfel shares details about the school's history and the legacy of its founders, the Sisters of St. Francis of Assisi.

Justin Roby (left) and Sebasitan Rios (right) are students at Cardinal Stritch, which is closing after this semester. Roby is a doctoral student; Rios is an undergraduate.

Emily Files

WUWM

With Cardinal Stritch University set to close, students are struggling to find paths forward

Stritch has just over 1,000 students currently attending the university. Those who aren’t set to graduate this month are scrambling to figure out how to continue their education.

Monica Kling-Garcia (left) and their mother Kelley Kling in 2014 after Monica graduated from Cardinal Stritch University.

Photo courtesy of Kelley Kling

Cardinal Stritch University and its closure is a family affair for one local parent and child

Monica Kling-Garcia, an alumnus and former admissions staff member, and their mother, Kelley Kling, an adjunct in the communications department, share how working together at Stritch impacted their family and relationship.