Forest City, IA- Area college students are expressing confidence in school leaders after learning about a new partnership.
Waldorf students we talked to are positive about the new partnership with Columbia Southern University. They say the change shouldn't impact their education.
Friday was just another day on campus for Waldorf College students. Communications major Sitraka Rakotoarivelo traveled all the way from Madagascar to attend the Lutheran school.
"I basically came here because it was part of the LCA so they're like here are some colleges that you can go to so being part of the LCA I came here cause they gave me the biggest scholarship."
When he first found out about the partnership with Colombia, his biggest concern was about his scholarship.
"I'm on a Lutheran Scholarship, but the partnership with CSU hasn't really annihilated that, they're still respecting that scholarship," he said.
The new partnership with the online university has many students asking questions.
"Like what was gonna happen, what changes were gonna happen, how is it gonna affect students," said Nefertiti Rasheed.
Perhaps the biggest change is cutting of ties between the school and the Lutheran denomination.
"Did I want to go to a private Lutheran college, yes, but I guess change happens and you kind of have to go with it," Rasheed said.
Students we talked to are just glad they'll still be able to finish their four year degree.
"I guess I have faith they’re not going to do anything that's going to affect me," said Rasheed.
"It's good for the college because if it wasn't for CSU Waldorf would probably close down and this probably could have been my last year at Waldorf College that wouldn't be really good," said Rakotoarivelo.
They say the affect could be greater on students planning to attend Waldorf.
School leaders aren't expecting to complete the sale of Waldorf to Colombia until next fall.
They say the new partnership could open up new opportunities for students, including graduate programs.
