Paul Smith’s College Not Closing, But Acquisition Is in Limbo

With commencement coming on Sunday, it’s been a whirlwind week for Paul Smith’s College (NY). The college’s attempted acquisition by the educational non-profit Fedcap has seen a setback as its accreditors request more information on the unprecedented affiliation. An email from the college’s president revealed that the college is considering laying off faculty down the line, in programs with low enrollment. The college is projecting yet another fall semester of low enrollment, continuing a downward trend that’s been going on for years and has contributed to a growing financial deficit. And a report that the college was forming a “closing plan” created a stir, but PSC interim President Dan Kelting called it “erroneous.”