“McNally Smith College of Music is shutting down due to a lack of funds,” report Solvejg Wastvedt and Peter Cox in Thursday’s (12/14) Minnesota Public Radio. “Board chair Jack McNally delivered the news Thursday night in an email to staff…. McNally wrote in the email … that the college does not have enough money to make payroll on Friday…. The St. Paul school’s owners have stated they are ‘committed to making good on the wages owed’ to the staff and would do so as soon as possible, McNally wrote. ‘But our employment has ended and the college is being closed at the end of the semester on Wednesday, December 20,’ wrote College President Harry Chalmiers in a different email to staff. McNally said the college has suffered under declining enrollment and the need to increase scholarship offerings to remain competitive.… McNally said administrators are working with local universities on transfer options for students…. In an emailed statement, Larry Pogemiller, the commissioner of the Minnesota office of Higher Education said, ‘We will work quickly with the school to secure students’ records, assist with transfers to other schools and mitigate financial hardship caused by the closing, as much as possible.’ ”
Posted December 20, 2017
