What special programming is being introduced in the fall?

Looking ahead, the College is introducing a new academic model beginning in Fall 2026—one designed to bring learning to life in new ways. Students will attend classes four days a week, with Fridays designated as “high impact days.”

“We are going to do something quite exciting in the new year. Following four days of classroom instruction, Friday will be a high impact day. We are going to take students out to different activities, to different educational events… and bringing folks onto campus to really bring to life what it is that they are being taught in the classroom,” Cawley explained.

These days will emphasize experiential learning—connecting academic concepts to real world applications and creating more meaningful engagement opportunities.

In addition, while the College will conclude its relationship with NCAA athletics at the end of the academic year, a strong intramural program has already taken hold.

“Students have been demonstrating a lot of interest… and they’ve already requested that intramurals be held multiple nights of the week,” he said.

How many students are expected next year?

Enrollment projections for the coming year are still being finalized, but current estimates suggest approximately 70 – 75 residential undergraduate students, along with additional commuters.

Graduate program numbers are also under review, with leadership continuing to assess near term enrollment expectations.

What kind of individualized attention can students expect?

As the student population grows smaller, one outcome has become increasingly clear: stronger connections.

“Students… are actually feeling an even closer connection now to the faculty and to one another,” Cawley said. “It is that type of familial connection that led some of our students to choose Rosemont in the first place.”

That sense of community—long a defining feature of Rosemont College—has only deepened.

Faculty are able to provide more individualized attention, working closely with students to ensure they meet academic milestones and remain on track to graduate by May 2028.

“Faculty are able to give much more personalized attention to each student. One positive byproduct of what we call ‘growing smaller’ is that students who chose a smaller institution for individualized attention may experience even more of it than they expected when they first came to Rosemont.”

Cawley described the experience as something akin to “concierge level” education:

“We know exactly what it is that they need… and we work with them to make sure they are getting exactly what they need in a very personal, connected, and meaningful way.”

What makes this merger unique?

This merger stands apart in several important ways—both structurally and philosophically.

A phased, intentional process, the three year timeline is highly unusual in higher education mergers.

“We are literally building the plane as we are flying it,” Cawley said, describing the complexity of coordinating with regulators, including the US Department of Education, the Pennsylvania Department of Education, and the Middle States accrediting body.

A true merger—not a closure

Cawley was clear in distinguishing this transition:

“This is a merger, not a closure, and it will be reflected in the preservation of identity, mission, and campus.”

Preservation of campus landmarks

Historic buildings and spaces on campus will be honored by maintaining the names of various buildings, such as Mayfield Hall, Connelly Hall, the McShain Performing Arts Center, and the Gertrude Kistler Memorial Library. Both the Marshall Garden Grotto and the Frank Connelly sculpture on campus will be maintained. The Chapel will be preserved as a place of gathering and inspiration and will continue to hold Catholic and interfaith services, concerts, lectures, and similar events. Main Building, or as the Sinnots named it, Rathalla (Gaelic meaning “home of the chieftain on the hill”), remains listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Through these and other actions, the physical and cultural character of Rosemont College will endure.

Traditions & continuity

• The campus will become Villanova University Rosemont Campus
• Longstanding traditions, such as Christmas Eve Mass, will continue
• Alumni will be welcomed back each year for reunions

Faculty & governance continuity

• Rosemont will hold three seats on the Villanova Board of Trustees for a period following the merger, to ensure a smooth transition.
• Tenured and tenure track faculty will be offered teaching opportunities at Villanova University

An independent chapter through 2028

Rosemont College will continue to offer its academic programs and confer degrees to its currently enrolled students through the spring semester of 2028—a critical period for both students and the broader community. During this time, alumni engagement remains especially important.

“We still need their help to provide that quality student experience… to make sure that we finish strong,” Cawley said.

Support from alumni directly contributes to sustaining the high quality, personalized experience that current students depend on—students who, as he emphasized, have chosen the college twice and earn their degree at Rosemont.

How did the relationship with Villanova influence this merger?

While the merger itself is new, the relationship between Rosemont College and Villanova University is anything but.

“I will admit that there is a special relationship between us and our partner Villanova that goes back many years—actually, some of it is lost to history,” Cawley said.

That connection was especially visible in the years before both institutions became coeducational. Villanova was an all male institution until the late 1960s, while Rosemont remained all female until 2009. During that time, students frequently crossed campuses for academic and social experiences.

“It was not uncommon for Rosemont students to be on Villanova’s campus—and most assuredly vice versa,” he explained.

Geography also played a role. The close physical proximity of the two campuses, combined with their shared identity as Catholic, faith based institutions, created a strong foundation for collaboration. As recently as the years leading up to the COVID 19 pandemic, a shuttle regularly connected the two campuses, further reinforcing that relationship.

“There was a lot of connective tissue that allowed us to get to this point,” Cawley said.

He noted that while every institution’s path forward will look different, the Rosemont–Villanova model may offer useful insights for others navigating change.

“I do think that other institutions, when considering what is next best for them in their evolution, may find helpful information and possible connections in what we’ve been building with Villanova since last March.”

What are you most proud of in this process?

For Cawley, the answer is clear.

“It is by far the fact that our student population… we are going to be here for them. We believe the structure of this merger puts the students first. The reason we designed this three year phased merger was to ensure that our students had the opportunity to be taught out in place and earn a Rosemont degree.”

When institutional mergers like this take place, a significant percentage of students do not go on to complete their degrees. This process was designed to change that trajectory.

“We wanted to try to turn that curve,” he said.

A close second is providing the opportunity for faculty and staff to figure out what is next for them in a thoughtful and strategic way.

“A three year process… allows them to move forward… without having to feel rushed,” he explained, emphasizing the importance of dignity and time in planning next steps.

President Cawley continued his thoughts on students, faculty, and staff.

“Those two things are the hallmark of this agreement and I think were skillfully and expertly negotiated by our chairman of the board of trustees and our team at Rosemont.”

What should parents know right now?

Parents can be confident that their students are continuing to receive:

• A high quality education
• Strong value within the region
• A more personalized and supportive experience

“We are going to provide a strong—if not even stronger—experience for our students. We are committed to being here and graduating as many of our students as possible by May of 2028,” Cawley said.

What should alumni know?

Alumni remain an essential part of Rosemont’s success. There is a clear commitment to preserving what makes Rosemont, Rosemont. Its name, mission, history, and traditions will continue as part of the transition.

“Rosemont is going to have its name preserved—its mission, its history,” Cawley said.

As previously mentioned, historic buildings and spaces on campus will be honored by maintaining the names of various buildings and the physical and cultural character of Rosemont College will endure.

Preserving Tradition

Traditions will continue. Longstanding events such as Christmas Eve Mass at the Chapel will remain, and alumni will continue to be welcomed back each year for reunions.

“There are so many ways in which our history, mission, and traditions will be preserved,” he added.

There are also a number of ways this commitment will take shape in very tangible, lasting ways.

New Opportunities for Students & Alumni

A new “Rosemont College Scholarship” will support a student in need each year, covering full tuition, room, and board—extending that commitment to access and opportunity well into the future.

“The goal is to make sure that the values that have always defined Rosemont—access, opportunity, and community—continue to be lived out in very real ways for students,” Cawley said.

The partnership will also expand opportunities for students, including creating clearer pathways for underserved populations—such as graduates of Cristo Rey Philadelphia High School and Arrupe College of Loyola University Chicago—to pursue a Villanova education.

At the same time, core elements of Rosemont’s identity will continue to be shared and celebrated, including programming around the Holy Child tradition—which will be featured through a lecture at least once every two to three years—and ongoing involvement with the African Sisters Education Collaborative (ASEC).

Importantly, while Rosemont graduates will not become Villanova graduates, Villanova University will maintain student transcripts, preserving academic records and continuity. Restricted gifts and donations made to Rosemont will continue to be honored according to their original intent to the greatest extent possible.

Current collaboration efforts are also helping carry Rosemont’s culture forward. Student ambassadors are actively working with Villanova partners to share traditions, values, and what matters most to the student experience—helping ensure those elements continue well into the future.

How Alumni Shape the Future of Rosemont

For alumni, that means both continuity and connection: the place, traditions, and spirit they know will endure, even as Rosemont becomes part of a larger institution. Their role in the present remains just as important.

By contributing financially, alumni help ensure that current students—those who have chosen Rosemont twice—receive the same high quality, personalized experience that defines a Rosemont education.

“We need to rely on their generosity… to make sure that we provide the best possible student experience,” Cawley said.

Looking Ahead

As the merger continues to evolve, one theme remains constant: a commitment to students, community, and continuity.

While change is underway, the mission, traditions, and identity of Rosemont College are being preserved—ensuring that its legacy continues as part of Villanova University for generations to come.