The planned merger between Gannon University and Ursuline College has taken a major step forward with the Higher Learning Commission’s approval of a Change of Control, officially allowing Gannon to assume leadership of Ursuline College.

As of June 30, Gannon University has replaced the Ursuline Sisters of Cleveland as the sole member of the Ursuline College Corporation.

Ursuline College will retain its own accreditation through December 2026 before fully merging under Gannon’s Middle States accreditation.

Gannon now holds ownership and financial oversight of Ursuline, while the Catholic Diocese of Erie has become the college’s new sponsor. A transitional board of nine members will guide the institution until the merger is finalized.

Teri Herrmann Corletzi, current board chair at Ursuline, will continue in that role during the transition.

“This marks a historic step on our shared journey,” said Gannon President Walter Iwanenko Jr. “We are honored to build on the strong foundation laid by the Ursuline Sisters and are committed to strengthening Catholic education along Lake Erie.”

Ursuline President David King echoed the optimism, calling the partnership a chance to build a stronger future focused on student success. Sister Laura Bregar of the Ursuline Sisters of Cleveland praised the faith-based collaboration, saying it “leads to flourishing for Catholic education.”

For now, students at Ursuline College will see no changes to tuition, fees, scholarships, academics or athletics.

Shared services and staff integration will gradually roll out as the institutions prepare for full unification.

Ursuline will keep its name until the final merger, when it becomes the Ursuline College Campus of Gannon University.

The combined institution will enroll about 5,500 students and employ over 1,000 people, forming the largest Catholic higher education system along Lake Erie with campuses in Erie, suburban Cleveland and Ruskin, Florida.