Dear members of the Temple community, 

As you have certainly heard by now, the University of the Arts announced last Friday it would be closing its doors at the end of this week. This is devastating news, both for the Philadelphia and higher education communities, but especially for the University of the Arts students, faculty, staff and alumni who have called this special institution home over the years. 

UArts has been a hallmark of Philadelphia’s longstanding cultural traditions, and it is one of the primary reasons that Philadelphia earned such a strong reputation as a vibrant arts community. As Philadelphia’s public university, Temple University is doing all it can to support the arts and higher education in our city. Our first priority is working to ensure that all UArts students have a path to completing their studies. 

This remains a fluid situation, and we continue to gather more information in relation to the University of the Arts’ sudden closure. Over the last several days, we have spoken with UArts representatives to explore all options and possible solutions that might help preserve the arts and the rich legacy of this 150-year-old institution. 

Since the news on Friday, we have created a dedicated web page for current and incoming UArts students to quickly and easily navigate the transfer process. We are here to support these talented individuals, and if they’re open to continuing or starting their studies at Temple, we want to make that transition as seamless as possible. The web page will be updated as we further flesh out agreements and processes. We are pleased to share that, as of today, more than 500 current and incoming UArts students already have used the form on the page to contact our Admissions Office. 

We sincerely thank Vice Provost for Enrollment Management Jose Aviles, Vice Provost for Academic Affairs Jodi Levine Laufgraben, Vice Provost for Undergraduate Studies Dan Berman, Vice Provost for Strategic Initiatives Richard Souvenir, Dean Susan Cahan of the Tyler School of Art and Architecture, Dean Robert Stroker of the Center for Performing and Cinematic Arts, and many other deans, faculty and staff across the university for their invaluable collaboration and support during this process. Their dedication to the welfare of students from UArts has been instrumental in upholding Temple's mission of providing access and opportunity, making this transition possible. 

We hope that you will join us in welcoming these talented and passionate students who choose to join the Temple community. Your kindness will be crucial in helping them navigate this period of change. Thank you, as always, for your support and your commitment to our students and our university. 

Sincerely, 

Richard M. Englert 
President 

Gregory N. Mandel 
Senior Vice President and Provost