BLUFFTON (WLIO) - After news broke that the Universities of Bluffton and Findlay were merging last week, both school's presidents took time this week to share more information on the pending change.
The Presidents of the universities teamed up to hold two town hall events this week to discuss their proposed merger on both school campuses. Last night in Findlay and tonight at Bluffton, Bluffton President Dr. Jane Wood and Findlay President Dr. Katherine Fell fielded and answered questions from parents, faculty, and students on any potential concerns they may have in the early stages and conversations of the merger.
"I do understand what they are saying when they say enrollment numbers are down across the state of Ohio, and we are starting to see a lot more kids go to the technical fields. So, I'm sure it is difficult to function for both universities. We do have a child that goes here, and we just want to see if he will be able to fulfill his education here at Bluffton, or if we have to look at other options," said Daniel Arndt, Bluffton parent.
President of Bluffton University, Dr. Jane Wood added, "I do believe that you can be comfortable and confident in the Bluffton blueprint, in the school's honor code, and the things that make us who we are. As President Fell said, 'they have no interest in us not being who we are - that's part of the attraction.'"
University of Findlay President, Dr. Katherine Fell stated, "we are not buying Bluffton. We are not taking over Bluffton. This decision even to take it to our board of trustees came after almost a year of conversations about how we can serve the good community of Northwest Ohio, and how we can serve our students even better by collaboration."
Both presidents made it clear that this is a long process that will take time, as they are just now entering phase two of four in the merger.
