Stronger together: Seattle U. and Cornish announce agreement to join forces

A few months ago, the president of Seattle University approached his counterpart at the Cornish College of the Arts with a suggestion: Let’s join forces.

Today, Seattle’s two education giants announced a plan to create a unique entity that combines the Jesuit educational tradition with a strong emphasis on art and design. The boards of trustees at both schools voted unanimously to approve the plan.

“Seattle University’s collaboration with Cornish will unite two storied Seattle colleges into one,” said Eduardo Peñalver, President of Seattle University. “It will create incredible new opportunities for our students to expand their educational horizons and for faculty to pursue innovative interdisciplinary collaborations.” This is definitely a case of “one plus one equals three.”

The potential merger must overcome regulatory hurdles with several state agencies, the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities and the federal Department of Education. It is estimated that this will take around two years.

A transition period could begin as early as May next year after Seattle U. officials conduct a thorough review of Cornish’s operations, including integrating Cornwall’s staff. Once the transaction is officially completed, Cornish will be known as the “Cornish College of the Arts at Seattle University.” The letter of intent envisages that the Cornish name will remain in place for at least the next 10 years.

The potential merger gives Seattle University the opportunity to expand its fine arts offerings. It is known for programs in computer science, law, business, nursing and humanities. It also has a reputation for encouraging students to participate in service projects that address local challenges such as homelessness, poverty and educational disparities. Both are private, nonprofit schools.

Students from both schools could have access to both campuses as early as next school year.

The combined institution could become a hub for Seattle’s nationally recognized creative industries, hosting performances, exhibitions and conferences that bridge academic and professional communities. The announcement comes just months after Seattle University announced a $300 million art donation from Seattle philanthropist Richard Hedreen, the largest art donation to a university in the United States. Seattle U. also plans to build an art museum on its urban campus, which spans the Capitol Hill and First Hill neighborhoods.

Emily Parkhurst, interim president of Cornwall, cited a challenging environment in higher education as the main reason for the move. The Wall Street Journal recently reported that more than 500 four-year private nonprofit colleges have closed in the last 10 years. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, 99 institutions closed between the 2022-23 and 2023-24 academic years alone.

“The pandemic has hit many small institutions hard, especially art institutions,” she says. “For Cornish this resulted in a decline in enrolments, which created financial challenges. Nevertheless, we are growing and are in a really good starting position.”

Cornish has made a significant cultural and creative impact on Seattle since its founding in 1914, with a focus on nurturing artistic talent across a range of disciplines, including visual arts, performing arts, music, design and creative writing. It has about 488 students. Tuition is $41,000 per year. Founded in 1891, Seattle University has 7,200 undergraduate and graduate students and is nationally known for its economic diversity and postgraduate employment. Tuition at Seattle U is more than $50,000.

It’s been a busy year for Cornish. Former president Raymond Tymas-Jones retired in July, and Cornish last month announced the sale of Kerry Hall – a 103-year-old building that was once the home of college founder Nellie Cornish – for $6 million the Seattle Theater Group. This sale completed Cornish’s plan to consolidate all of its operations at the South Lake Union campus.

Note: Cornish interim president Emily Parkhurst and Seattle magazine editor-in-chief Rob Smith are married.