It’s the end of the line for Bethany University
A message on Facebook from Rev. James Braddy, the Superintendent of the Assemblies of God Northern California and Nevada district, announced that at noon today, June 13, all teaching operations at the university were stopped.
The message was directed toward friends of the 92-year-old Christian institution. There has not been a formal announcement made as of Monday afternoon.
According to Braddy’s post, the 500-plus student university was not able to raise enough money to fund its operations, despite announcements that an investment group had agreed to purchase the institution.
“I come to you today with a very heavy heart,” Braddy wrote. “After six months of working with potential donors and a potential buyer of Bethany University, I need to announce that all of these efforts have failed. Each potential donor and potential “buyer” has stepped away.”
The announced closure came only days after University President Lewis Shelton wrote to alumni, “Bethany’s future looks brighter than ever,” after investors had apparently agreed to purchase the university.
The school is owned by the Assemblies of God Northern California and Nevada District.
Braddy wrote that the university president was instructed to begin an orderly shutdown of the school and campus.
July 7 is the day, the district’s board of directors will be asked to approve the shutdown.
In the meantime, the Assemblies of God financial services office will meet with district and school leadership to map out how to close the campus and to decide the disposition of property and debt upon the property, Braddy wrote.
A phone call to Braddy’s office has not been returned as of Monday afternoon. Staff on campus declined to comment.
However, in a press-release Monday afternoon, the university announced that it will enter a “teach-out” phase for students enrolled in the summer semester.
According to the release, the campus will develop and submit a plan to the university’s accrediting agency, the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.
Among the proposals in the plan will be memoranda of understanding with other accredited institutions to facilitate the transfer of Bethany University students.
