Notre Dame College, a Division II school in South Euclid, Ohio, will suspend operations at the end of the current semester, the school announced Thursday.
NDC's statement cited "declining enrollment, a shrinking pool of college-aged students, rising costs and significant debt" as reasons for shutting down the university.
“Throughout this long process, we evaluated every possible option to continue the mission of Notre Dame College," said Terri Bradford Eason, chair of the Board of Trustees of Notre Dame College. “Our primary focus has been to ensure our students can successfully continue their education, graduate, and – in the tradition of the Sisters of Notre Dame – live a life of personal, professional and global responsibility.”
It is with heavy hearts that we announce Notre Dame College will be concluding in-person instruction at the end of Spring Semester 2024.
— Notre Dame College (@NotreDameOhio) February 29, 2024
Officials from Cleveland State University and Notre Dame College held several meetings about CSU absorbing NDC, but no deal was struck. Instead, Cleveland State is among nine schools that have agreed to automatically accept Notre Dame College students in good academic standing.
No such arrangement exists for Notre Dame College football, who welcomed its 2024 signing class -- 17 players, all 17 from Ohio -- just three weeks ago.
"I am very excited for the future of Notre Dame College Football," head coach Garrett Mack said. "I think we did a great job focusing on filling roster needs with great people and great players. I want to thank my staff, the entire athletic department and everyone who helped make this year's signing class a success."
The university's financial struggles did not stop the Falcons from winning. Mack's team went 7-3 in 2023, with a 6-3 mark in Mountain East Conference play.
Notre Dame College was founded as an all-women's institution in 1922 and did not become co-ed until 2001. The school launched football in 2009. Notre Dame College won four straight MEC championships from 2018-21, a conference record; the 2018 season will remain enshrined as the program's peak: the Falcons went 10-0 in the regular season and reached the Division II semifinals, where they lost to eventual champion Valdosta State.
"All I can say is how proud I am of the players, coaches and everybody else who was a part of making this program what it was. The accomplishments, the legacy the relationships will never be forgotten," Mack told FootballScoop. "Our focus now is finding homes for all players and recent commits to they can continue their dreams of playing college football. This program was built on hard work and determination and I know these players and coaches will take that with them wherever they go."
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