Bluffton University will not join forces with the University of Findlay after all. The former canceled its previously agreed upon merger with the latter at the last-possible second because their separate athletic programs did not align with the current structure of the NCAA.
There is no easy way to bring them together as previously thought.
If I had to guess, most of the people reading this article were not previously aware of either school. I was vaguely aware of Findlay but not Bluffton. Bare with me, this story gets better.
The University of Findlay is located in northwestern Ohio, approximately 130 west of Cleveland and 90 miles east of Fort Wayne, Indiana. It is a 143-year-old private school of Evangelical Christian affiliation with a total enrollment of 4,829 students. Bluffton University is located just 20 miles up the road. It is a 12-year-old private school of Anabaptist Christian affiliation with a total enrollment of just 745 students.
Bluffton and Findlay previously agreed to merge their universities with a Memorandum of Understanding on March 19, 2024. The larger school was essentially going to absorb the smaller school. They were going to file a joint application to the Higher Learning Commission for merger approval in coming weeks.
However, the University of Findlay Board of Trustees decided to pull out on Wednesday. Dr. Katherine Fell cited the length of time to merge and merger expenses as deterrents.
Some higher education organizations may find mergers the best path forward. For us, due diligence in this case has demonstrated that partnering in key ways is a better solution.
— President Fell
Bluffton never saw it coming. Cheryl Hacker, chairman of the Board of Trustees, was completely blindsided.
While the outcome of this vote was not within Bluffton University’s control, we remain confident, optimistic and steadfast in our commitment to the future of our institution. Bluffton University continues to be financially stable, strategically independent, and well-prepared for the future. This decision does not diminish our core mission “to prepare students for life as well as vocation…and ultimately for the purposes of God’s universal kingdom.”
— Cheryl Hacker
Athletics also played a large role. Bluffton competes in eight men’s sports and eight women’s sports on the Division-III level. Findlay competes in 10 men’s and women’s sports on the Division-II level. The Beavers compete in the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference. The Oilers compete in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference.
By-laws established by the NCAA require separate processes for athletic financial aid distribution. They also prohibit the sharing of resources and sports facilities. The synergies in those areas were far less than originally anticipated. Findlay did not realize how difficult the governing body of college sports was going to make the merger with Bluffton so it decided to bail.
Both universities are committed to furthering their relationship through various partnerships moving forward. However, the merger is officially dead. Although the death technically comes at the hands of Findlay, the real ones know it stems from the NCAA and its unwillingness to be pliable.