Not trying to be alarming.
But has anyone seen this?
http://www.rider.edu/pathforward/updates
Rider is selling Westminster Choir College. (Which is in Princenton NJ not on the Lawerenceville campus. Will that impact the MT students?
It could be a big plus for the MT program as any of the more likely institutions able to purchase WCC have established
Theater and Dance and Music Programs but not MT. So a few years of figuring out were to put things but it could be a big win for the program.
I don’t have details of the current situation, but may be able to get some over the next couple of days. (Have a friend who is faculty at Westminster.) I will share what I can, when I can. In the meantime, when we visited Rider (daughter auditioned for MT) I asked specifically about opportunities for her to take vocal training and/or participate in choral groups at Westminster. We were told that it was possible, but would likely be a scheduling challenge, and that MT students were offered vocal training at the Lawrenceville campus.
I don’t know if the selling of the choir college will impact the Westminster College of the Arts - the terminology Rider uses to label both the choir college and the school of fine & performing arts from a marketing standpoint.
In addition…the wording of the announcement related to “declining enrollment and retention, high operating costs and increased competition” gives me pause as a parent. I attended a small liberal arts college similar to Rider. It faced similar challenges and that language was often used. Ultimately, the school closed (years after I graduated). If my child was considering Rider, I would ask some tough questions of the university administration re: the next four years.
I wasn’t sure if Westminster College of the Arts fell under Westminster Choir College or Rider…
The Westminster campus in Princeton is beautiful.
I just heard from Westminster that the MT program would not change as it would continue under the Rider University Fine and Performing Arts Program. All the MT classes and facilities are held on the Rider Campus.
@sbc That is good and reassuring news!
Hey everyone – Please don’t confuse Westminster Choir College (owned by Rider – separate campus in Princeton) and Westminster College of the Arts at Rider University (under which the School of Fine and Performing Arts and the Musical Theatre program falls). The MT program is totally and completely housed on the Rider campus in Lawrenceville and wouldn’t be affected at all by the sale (or lease-back or whatever) of the WCC property.
In fact, WCC is so small (only 300 students or so) that it may actually be better for the university as a whole to sell that property – despite its architectural/historical/emotional significance to the community – and consolidate those students onto Rider’s campus and/or develop some sort of lease-back arrangement. I think that’s what Rider is evaluating at this time.
But just know that none of this affects the musical theatre department.
In his time at Rider, my son had only 1 or 2 classes on the WCC campus in 4 years, and I believe those were only due to his double major in Arts Admin. It is entirely possible for an MT student to have no courses at WCC and never ever see the WCC campus.
Some of this is confusing b/c the old CC forums used to list WCC as a BFA school before Rider purchased it in 1992. Just know that the BFA in MT is housed fully and completely at Rider University. 
Hope this helps.
@MTTwinsinCA thank you for the clarification. The announcement that I linked from the President of Rider stated they are selling off Westminster Choir College not rehousing it.
I’m glad to hear it won’t affect the MT students.
Right, and these declining enrollment and retention problems are only at the Lawrenceville campus. Westminster Choir College consistently operates at or near capacity.
My S just graduated from Westminster Choir College with a BM in Voice Perf. It’s sad that it is being sold, but it’s not the first time. It’s just hard keeping such a small program with expensive real estate going. WCC offered my S training with some of the top voice teachers in America and its graduates have done consistently well in the Met competition for the past several years, and sing in some of the top opera houses in the world. Such a shame that it is closing! My S said that they only have 30 freshman coming in next year. I’m surprised they even have that many, but they will probably all be able to transfer to Rider when WCC closes. But at least my S will always have a diploma that says Westminster Choir College (and Rider).
Sorry to hijack this, but saw that the question was about WCC.
Not sure where your son got his info, but according to a current WCC faculty member, there are 62 entering undergrads (last year was 80), and 41 grads (last year was 50). I suspect absolutely zero of them will be planning to transfer to Rider in the event of WCC closing. All of them are fully aware of the situation, but are willing to risk having to transfer for even one year of training under the world-class faculty that is at WCC. There is a very committed coalition, with a very formidable attorney, working hard to make sure that WCC lives on in Princeton, with or without Rider. It is not over until the fat lady sings! 