Several Kentucky colleges and universities are courting students from St. Catherine College in Springfield.
Citing debt and declining enrollment, the school announced this month that it will close at the end of July.
Among the schools reaching out to the students is Brescia University in Owensboro. Vice President for Enrollment Management Chris Houk says Brescia and St. Catharine have many things in common.
"We compete in the same athletic conference within the NAIA," explained Houk. "While Brescia University is more of an urban campus, our day program population is very similar in size and we offer very similar programs to those students."
Brescia and St. Catharine are also both Catholic universities.
Brecia is offering its Catholic Connections Grant to all St. Catharine students, regardless of their religious affiliation. The grant allows Catholic students, with the recommendation of their parish, to receive half-price tuition. Brescia is also holding a reception for prospective students Wednesday evening in Frankfort.Owensboro-based Kentucky Wesleyan College is also working to attract St. Catharine students. According to its website, KWC is accepting 100 percent of transfer credits from St. Catharine and also promising those students a 50 percent tuition discount.
In Bowling Green, Western Kentucky University's Office of Admissions has agreed to waive admission application and fees for St. Catharine students wishing to continue their studies at WKU.
Kentucky State University in Frankfort is offering students who want to transition there a $900 scholarship in addition to a book stipend for an academic year.
St. Catharine College is a private institution that was founded in 1931. Total undergraduate enrollment for school-year 2014-15 was 939 students.
