PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - Concordia University students walked out of their classes Thursday in protest of the Board of Regents recent decision to close the 115-year-old institution this year.
The private Lutheran university’s board voted last Friday to cease operations and sell Concordia’s 24-acre campus in Northeast Portland.
Concordia enrolls about 5,700 students, but sources estimate only about 1,200 of them attend classes on campus. Most of the students study remotely through Concordia’s online classes.
Students spoke on campus Thursday morning outside the president’s residence holding signs asking “Where did my money go?,” “Almost graduated” and “CU in court,” The Oregonian/OregonLive reported.
In a poster calling for the walkout, students outlined a list of demands targeted at the Board of Regents: clear financial records, questions answered regarding the sudden closure, and a support plan for students, staff, faculty and the surrounding community.
On Wednesday, school officials notified the state that the closure will eliminate 1,518 jobs. It’s unclear how many of those positions are full-time.
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