The proposed merger between the University of Findlay and Bluffton University has been called off as of February 26th, 2025. UF Board of Trustees voted to not submit further application, citing a lack of opportunities to synergize with Bluffton that was uncovered during the due diligence process.
The website hosting information about the merger (FindlayBlufftonFuture.com) is now down and redirects back to UF’s own website.
Both UF’s official Newsroom, and UF’s student run paper “Pulse” detail the anticlimactic end to the with a direct message from UF President Dr. Katherine Fell who commented that the due diligence process was helpful for both institutions, while admitting that unforeseen regulations meant the merger would provide “fewer synergies. . . than originally intended.” The implication seems to be that UF doesn’t foresee the merger as being financially beneficial any longer and that it would, instead, carry more financial risk than reward.
That feeling of risk, now felt by UF, was prevalent from the Bluffton side almost immediately. Last year when the merger was announced, many people in the Bluffton community were vocal in either their hesitancy or their frustration about the merger, and often both. There was a palpable feeling from the Bluffton citizens that the merger would result in Findlay simply swallowing up the smaller school and removing much of the city of Bluffton’s identity.
Bluffton University also covered the end of the proposed merger on their blog simply titled “Merger Stopped.” The decision, made by UF’s Board of Trustees, not Bluffton’s, likely comes with mixed emotions for the smaller institution.
Multiple Facebook groups were created to rally support and concern in the early days of the merger, in April of 2024. Some were worried that UF might sell off certain parts of Bluffton’s land or facilities, while others questioned whether UF’s and BU’s ethical standards were compatible. In particular, BU’s Mennonite pacifist stance was contrasted with the CGGC’s support of Chaplains.
On the Bluffton University’s Facebook post about the cancellation, many celebrated the news while others suggested that the whole merger was a waste of time, resources, and the community's trust. Unfortunately, unsupported conspiracy theories, the bread and butter of Facebook comments, were rife as well.
On the other hand, Cheryl Hacker, Bluffton University Board of Trustees Chair, suggested that the cancellation of the merger is a “moment of disappointment,” but that the institution remains undaunted to tackle the future. That disappointment is doubly felt due to the university's president, Dr. Jane Wood, resigning on the same day that BU was informed by UF that the merger was cancelled. All of it paints a tumultuous time for the Bluffton community. Dr. Wood’s departure was noted with a single sentence, with no reason given, and one is left to draw their own conclusions.
What is clear is that the leadership of both institutions wanted the merger to succeed, and sincerely believed it was in the best interest of each when they embarked on this process well over a year ago. It’s unfortunate then that the smaller institution, BU, is facing more tumult as a result of the merger’s announcement and subsequent cancellation, meanwhile, for UF, the announcement and cancellation have both been met with mild interest and little excitement.
For both institutions, this sour news comes at a difficult time for Higher Ed in general. UF just went through their own cost cutting initiatives, which resulted in layoffs even of people who had been at the university for more than a decade. The expectation from experts is that colleges, especially small colleges, are going to continue closing in 2025 at breakneck pace. As of 2024 it was reported that at least 1 college a week either announced their closure, or a merger.
In both UF’s and BU’s blog posts about the merger, the institutions reiterated that they are ready and well situated for the future. Personally, I hope and pray that this is true. As a UF alumnus, I’m proud of the education and opportunities that UF has afforded me, and we need more, not fewer, strong Christian based colleges teaching not only truth, but truth situated in a Christ honoring moral framework.
CGGC eNews—Vol. 19, No. 10
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