Milwaukee’s Mount Mary University will be taking in students from Holy Family College in Manitowoc as part of an agreement between the private Catholic liberal arts institutions.

The “Teach-Out Agreement” was reached as Holy Family, formerly known as Silver Lake College of the Holy Family, prepares to close its doors this month at the end of the school’s summer academic term. Holy Family students will be able to enroll at Mount Mary and continue their studies uninterrupted. 

Mount Mary advisors will work with the transfers to craft individualized plans for migrating credits and secure financial aid. The accepting school has also waived application fees.

MMU President Christine Pharr | https://mtmary.edu/

“Mount Mary is truly sad about the loss of our colleague school, Holy Family College, and we will do everything possible to assist their students, faculty and staff to find meaningful positions in a comparable, mission-based institution,” Mount Mary President Dr. Christine Pharr said in an article published on the university’s website.

Mount Mary and Holy Family are 80 miles apart geographically yet bear many similarities ideologically, as both institutions were founded by orders of Roman Catholic sisters. The School Sisters of Notre Dame founded Mount Mary in 1913 while the Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity established Holy Family three decades earlier.

Each school prioritizes the student, with Mount Mary promising incoming students from Holy Family that they will be welcomed into a tight-knit campus community where everyone knows each other by name. Holy Family students also have a variety of support services at their new school, and Mount Mary professors and staff members stand ready to help them with their transition in any way.

“The university is deeply committed to creating an inclusive atmosphere for students from all backgrounds,” the article said. “Mount Mary’s rich diversity – with 58% of undergraduate students identifying as women of color – greatly enhances the conversations and community built on campus.”