While an official statement on the matter is still pending, there is a report out there that Fisher More College will close its doors May 5.
That’s the latest story I’ve heard from some folks very well placed to know. I do not believe the official announcement has been made, yet, but the financial problems at Fisher-More College have developed to the point – as many insiders thought they would – that the college will be forced to close its campus on May 5.
From what I understand, the hope is to keep the college open as an online-only college but Fisher-More does not have accreditation for such. In addition, the accrediting agency has previously only granted accreditation to online programs that develop from a real, physical college. It is unknown whether accreditation can be obtained for an online-only school.
It is sad that the closing chapter of the school was the ugly affair of the TLM. But the trajectory of the college was likely set long before Bishop Olson even became Bishop. Nailing the coffin shut does not kill its inhabitant, so Bishop Olson is not responsible for this.
Obviously, the college had its financial difficulties for some time, difficulties that were not helped by the incidents over the last 2 months for which the administration of the college bears a significant amount of responsibility.
That said, the school’s financial plan, as detailed in their published documents, was entirely dependent of securing a sizable grant from a generous donor capable of sustaining the school indefinitely . That isn’t really a plan, that is a dream.
That said, I really love the idea of an affordable Traditional Catholic College and I hope that someone, someday succeeds with one. If they do, Fisher More College will be the cautionary tale that helps them avoid the pitfalls.
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