UF and Bluffton merger updates

During the spring semester of 2024, the University of Findlay and Bluffton University announced a merger between the two institutions. Over the summer, faculty have been working to prepare for this merger.

“The summer was also a time where employees from both Bluffton and Findlay got to know each other through events such as the BioBlitz and Transition Team work as teams gathered evidence for the Change of Control application,” UF Associate Vice President for Learning and Innovation Dr. Christine Denecker said.

Part of preparing for the merger included gathering information for the first application needed to the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) and the Ohio Department of Higher Education. The “Change of Control, Structure, or Organization” application consists of three parts: a general statement; legal, financial and regulatory documents; and institutional statement. The application will be submitted in May 2025.

The merger is currently in Phase One, which will take over a year to complete. After the application is submitted in May 2025, the decision from the HLC will be done in December 2025.

“We anticipate that all will go well,” Denecker said. “In December 2025, Bluffton’s organizational structure will come under the Findlay administrative umbrella; however, the student side of things (financial aid, athletics, etc.) will continue to remain separate.”

After Phase One is completed, the two institutions will enter an interim phase as they wait for approval from the federal government. That will then segment into Phase Two.

“The regulations for higher education mergers changed in 2023, so we are not entirely sure how long the process will take since no other institution has been through all the steps to this point,” Denecker said. “We are truly trailblazers in the area.”

The merger process involves help and input from many people. Along with Denecker, Dr. Ray McCandless, UF Chief Project Officer, Claire Kleman, BU Interim Vice President for Advancement and Enrollment Management, and Dr. Gayla Trollinger, BU Education Department Chair at BU are the four project leaders. This transition also requires help from a legal counsel and the chairs of Bluffton and Findlay’s Boards of Trustees.

“We have 16 Transition Teams with six to eight people on each. These teams are working to bring together areas on both campuses such as Academic Affairs, Student Affairs, Facilities, Enrollment Management, Human Resources, and others,” Denecker said. “In other words, we have much work to do when it comes to integrating the campuses, so many people are being asked to serve. These people are doing great work and are so gracious with their time and talents.”

Denecker is optimistic of the future of both Bluffton and UF after the merger transition takes place.

“While the integration of the campuses will be hard work, I don’t think students will feel too much disruption,” Denecker said. “Instead, we are excited for the new possibilities for students that will come from the merging of our institutions. There will be new majors to choose from as well as different opportunities: events, experiential learning, study abroad and more.”