Delaware College of Art and Design to close permanently in Wilmington

Delaware College of Art and Design announced it will be "winding down operations in the coming weeks" — then closing permanently.

DCAD shared the announcement in a press release Thursday, confirming it will not be offering any classes or awarding degrees for the 2024-25 academic year. The college's announcement came just over a week after the Class of 2024 commencement, following nearly 30 years of operation in Wilmington.

“This decision was incredibly difficult, and we explored every possible avenue to avoid it,” President Jean Dahlgren said in a statement. “However, declining enrollment over several years, including for the upcoming year, has made it impossible for us to continue effectively offering our educational programs.”

The college noted broad, ongoing challenges: a shrinking number of college-age students, rising operational costs, unexpected issues surrounding FAFSA.

For students, leaders said, support is available.

The college said it has partnered with Pennsylvania College of Art and Design and Moore College of Art & Design to offer "streamlined direct admission" for current students, as well as those students accepted for next school year.

These Lancaster and Philadelphia institutions offer comparable programs and costs, per the college, though no longer in the state. DCAD has offered associate degree programs in animation, fine arts, game art, graphic design, illustration and photography.

“We understand this news may cause stress and uncertainty,” Dahlgren continued in the release. “We are dedicated to minimizing the impact on our students during this transition and are committed to helping our faculty and staff pursue future opportunities.”

Representatives from both transfer options will be on campus Thursday, May 30, and Friday, May 31, alongside virtual sessions. More details were communicated directly to students, according to DCAD.

Cathy Young, president of Moore College of Art & Design, issued a statement Friday morning on the closure.

"The Moore community is saddened to hear about Delaware College of Art and Design’s difficult decision to close its doors. ... We have partnered with DCAD to create a seamless path for current DCAD students to join us at Moore College of Art & Design, the first and only historically women’s college for art and design, now welcoming non-binary and gender non-conforming students," she writes.

"It’s an honor and a privilege for us to be one of only two institutions selected as teach-out partners for DCAD, and we are eager to support these talented students."

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This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Delaware College of Art and Design announces permanent closure