ADRIAN — Siena Heights University held its last commencement at the end of May with a graduating class of 731. Now the university and the Adrian Dominican Sisters, who founded the school back in 1919, are working to figure out what’s next.

A group called the Phoenix Committee has been working to transfer some academic programs to other institutions, in addition to working toward the eventual repurposing of Siena Heights University’s Adrian Campus. The 12-member committee includes representatives of Siena Heights, the Adrian Dominican Sisters, and the larger community.

In June, university leadership finalized agreements to move 11 academic programs to partner institutions. These agreements are designed to ensure continuity for students and preservation of key academic offerings aligned with the university’s mission:

• Aquinas College of Grand Rapids, founded by the Grand Rapids Dominican Sisters, will build upon Siena Heights University’s established academic programs to develop its bachelor’s degree programs in Criminal Justice and Social Work and it’s master’s degree program in Healthcare Leadership.
• Barry University in Florida, founded in 1940 by the Adrian Dominican Sisters, will be continuing the SHU Global programs, which include Accounting, Applied Science, Business Administration, Management, Marketing, and Multidisciplinary Studies.
• The Siena Heights nursing program is being transferred to Cleary University in Howell.

Siena Heights will provide access to program requirements, course descriptions, and program learning outcomes to each of these institutions, according to a news release. They will be allowed to use Siena’s name and logo when promoting the designated programs.

Unused medical supplies from the nursing program at Siena Heights University were recently shipped to Venezuela for relief aid in response to the devasting earthquakes. Ten bins and boxes contained bandages, gauze, tape, antiseptic wipes, syringes, sterile gloves, and even trach suctioning kits, among other supplies, that were donated to a group in Detroit coordinating relief efforts. The Adrian Dominican Sisters contributed funds to help cover the costs of transporting these and other donated goods to those in need in Venezuela.

Steps are now underway to solicit proposals for use of the campus and its facilities. The Phoenix Committee has engaged JLL, a global commercial real estate services and investment management company, to assist with this outreach effort, which will be undertaken both locally and nationally. More information will be issued to those who express interest and proposals will be vetted by JLL and members of the Phoenix Committee. Parties wishing to receive more information are asked to notify JLL by emailing [email protected] or [email protected].

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The Phoenix Committee was formed to consider proposals for optimal transformed use of Siena Heights University’s campus, buildings, facilities, and educational programs, following its academic closure in June 2026. The 12-member Phoenix Committee includes representatives of the Siena Heights University Board of Trustees, the Adrian Dominican Sisters, Siena Heights University, and the larger Adrian/Lenawee County community.