Two private colleges said Tuesday they are closing some of their Georgia educational operations to instead solely hold online classes.
Saint Leo University is closing 17 campuses nationwide, including centers in Atlanta and Duluth. University officials said in a statement to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution they are making the changes because of “enrollment trends and operational changes made as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.”
Several colleges and universities in Georgia and across the nation have announced cutbacks and operational changes because of revenue declines related to the pandemic.
The Saint Leo closures will occur over the next few months, officials said. The university has about 11,800 students nationwide, federal data shows. The university’s main center is located about 40 miles from Tampa, Florida.
Also Tuesday, Brenau University announced plans to close its Augusta operations, effective Dec. 31.
The number of students in the Augusta area taking classes remotely has increased significantly in recent years, university officials said, prompting the change.
“As Brenau has become a regional leader in remote learning and support, it has naturally followed that especially our adult learners have gravitated to this mode of instruction,” Jim Eck, Brenau’s provost and vice president of academic affairs, said in a statement. “Going forward, we remain steadfast in our commitment to providing a world-class education to residents in the Augusta region remotely in a more effective and efficient way.”
Brenau has campuses in Gainesville, Norcross, Fairburn and Jacksonville, Florida.
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