Goodwin, Paier and Sacred Heart to establish presence at U. of Bridgeport

PHOTO | University of Bridgeport An overhead shot of the University of Bridgeport campus.

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By Sean Teehan

Two universities and a college entered into an agreement with the University of Bridgeport to establish a presence on Bridgeport's campus, and possibly honor academic credits earned at each others' institutions.

Goodwin University of East Hartford, Hamden-based Paier College of Art and Sacred Heart University in Fairfield signed a letter of intent with the University of Bridgeport, agreeing to pursue a partnership in which Goodwin, Paier and Sacred Heart would offer courses at Bridgeport.

The planned collaboration comes about a year after a plan for Bridgeport to merge with Marlboro College in Vermont fell apart. Inside Higher Ed, a trade publication, last year reported Bridgeport President Laura Skandera Trombley said “challenges are too great for us to proceed," as reason the deal fell through, and Marlboro officials said they wanted to retain their campus and self-directed curriculum.

Marlboro earlier this year announced plans to merge with Emerson College in Boston.

Bridgeport, and the institutions establishing presences on its campus are currently working with regional accreditors on how they could establish a setup in which students enrolled at Bridgeport, for example, could take a course offered by Goodwin, and receive credits toward graduation at Bridgeport. There are no immediate plans for any of the institutions to make any moves until the credit mechanics are established and approved.

“This is an exciting time for the University of Bridgeport as higher education is reimagined in collaboration with three institutions that are each known for excellence in academic concentrations,” Bridgeport Mayor Joe Ganim said at a press conference Tuesday.

Additionally, administrators are considering the possibility of offering some credit-bearing programs to high school students, who could better prepare them for college, Goodwin President Mark Scheinberg said.

“High school students... can go from earning certificates, to associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees, adjusting as their programs of study necessitate,” Scheinberg said.