Former students of the University of the Arts in Philadelphia start new academic careers at the Moore College of Art and Design

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) — Former students at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia are beginning their new semester at new schools after the university was suddenly closed in June.

At the Moore College of Art and Design in Center City, students who had previously attended UArts settled in well on Saturday.

Action News spoke to one student who is looking forward to the next chapter after such a devastating blow.

Trevor Farrel is a freshman who planned to attend UArts.

Instead, she found out three weeks ago that she would be studying film with Moore.

“I feel like it was really stressful in the beginning and I was like, ‘Oh my God, what am I going to do for the next four years of my life?’ Like everything was on the line. And then I feel like I found a stronger sense of community. I feel like I’ve really put down roots here in Philly and found a passion that’s driven me even further through what I’ve been through – that heartbreak,” Farrell said.

Moore College welcomed 265 new students this year, including many from Uarts, the Delaware College of Art and Design, and the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts after those all closed.

UArts students, faculty and staff learned of the sudden closure in late May.

University officials said this was due, among other things, to financial problems and a lack of enrollment.

Since then, some students and staff have filed lawsuits. One lawsuit filed in June alleges the university failed to provide timely notice of the closure.

Federal law requires employers to give employees 60 days’ written notice of layoff plans. The University of the Arts gave one week’s notice.

The House Majority Committee held a hearing the same month the lawsuit was filed.

While the closure of UArts was a painful sign for many, Moore officials say they are welcoming students with open arms.

“We are saddened by the closing of the University of the Arts, as is everyone in Philadelphia. With this closure, we are the only independent art and design school in Philadelphia and we take that role very seriously. Our mission is to educate the future creators and innovators who will shape our world,” said Cathy Young, president of the Moore College of Art and Design.

Young says that in addition to students, former UArts faculty members have been hired at Moore. The next semester begins August 22.