Cornish at Ïã½¶ÊÓÆµ

Ïã½¶ÊÓÆµ has entered into an agreement with Cornish College of the Arts to establish Cornish College of the Arts at Ïã½¶ÊÓÆµ.

Cornish logos and graphics

Updated July 17, 2025

Cornish College of the Arts and Ïã½¶ÊÓÆµ have entered into an agreement to establish a new college at SU—Cornish College of the Arts at Ïã½¶ÊÓÆµ. The binding agreement broadly outlines the planned structure for the transaction, with an anticipated closing date of June 2, 2025, subject to regulatory approvals and satisfaction of other conditions. Upon closing, Cornish will contribute and transfer its assets to SU and will cease to exist as a nonprofit and separate degree-granting institution.

Current and incoming Cornish students transitioning to Ïã½¶ÊÓÆµ will be able to complete their program and receive their degree from Ïã½¶ÊÓÆµ. Cornish College of the Arts at Ïã½¶ÊÓÆµ will operate at the South Lake Union campus. Ïã½¶ÊÓÆµ is in the process of reviewing and making decisions on the hiring of faculty and staff from Cornish to help facilitate a smooth transition for Cornish students.

"[The agreement] entrusts Ïã½¶ÊÓÆµ with Cornish's long legacy of excellence and innovation in arts education. We welcome this responsibility as a generational opportunity to elevate and enhance the arts and arts education at SU for students and the broader community we, and Cornish, have served for more than 100 years."

—Eduardo Peñalver, Ïã½¶ÊÓÆµ President
President's Update (March 18, 2025)

Empowering Future Artists, Creators and Innovators

Ïã½¶ÊÓÆµ students practice for their upcoming performance of A Doll's House.

Excellence in Arts Education

Ïã½¶ÊÓÆµ is honored to carry forward Cornish’s long legacy of excellence and innovation in the arts. The new college at SU will elevate the arts and arts education for students and the broader community SU and Cornish have served for more than 100 years. The visual and performing arts are central to our mission of educating the whole person through an inclusive, values-based and experiential approach to learning.

By integrating the fine arts across our curriculum and student life, we foster creativity, imagination, critical thinking and a holistic understanding of the world. Cornish College of the Arts at Ïã½¶ÊÓÆµ will deliver an enhanced arts education that provides greater interdisciplinary opportunities across arts, business and STEM with expanded access to the fine arts for all students.

map showing distance from Cornish to SU

Two Campuses, One University

Cornish College of the Arts at Ïã½¶ÊÓÆµ will operate at the South Lake Union campus with shuttle service to and from the university’s main campus in First Hill. The proximity of the two campuses (just a mile apart) makes it convenient for students to easily enjoy all that both campuses have to offer and explore their interests inside and outside the classroom. 

 

 

icon of a van shuttle

Ïã½¶ÊÓÆµ will provide shuttle service between the two campuses.

building facade of Cornish

More Spaces to Enjoy the Fine Arts

From the Behnke Family Gallery to the historic Raisbeck Performance Hall, Cornish Playhouse at Seattle Center and the state-of-the-art Raisbeck Auditorium, Ïã½¶ÊÓÆµ students will be able to enjoy the visual arts and many creative and performance spaces.

Cornish College of the Arts has approximately 11,000 square feet of rehearsal performance space and 11,000 square feet in production space, which includes the scene shop at Seattle Center and the costume shop on the main South Lake Union campus.

Cornish Agreement In the Ïã½¶ÊÓÆµ

building facade of Cornish with brick detailing

Ïã½¶ÊÓÆµroom: Cornish at SU is Here

Cornish College of the Arts at Ïã½¶ÊÓÆµ is now official, marking an exciting new chapter combining Cornish’s century-long legacy of innovation as an independent arts college with Ïã½¶ÊÓÆµâ€™s deep commitment to academic rigor and educating the whole person.

SU President Penalver and Cornish Interim President Emily Parkhurst shaking hands

The Seattle Times on June 3, 2025: “The combination of Cornish with Ïã½¶ÊÓÆµ preserves the Cornish legacy for future generations and will transform arts education in Seattle,†Ïã½¶ÊÓÆµ President Eduardo Peñalver said in a statement.

Headshot of Brian Harlan

Ïã½¶ÊÓÆµroom: Harlan Named Dean for Cornish at SU

Ïã½¶ÊÓÆµ announces Dr. Brian Harlan as the inaugural Dean of Cornish College of the Arts at Ïã½¶ÊÓÆµ, bringing visionary leadership and a rich academic background to a transformative new era in arts education.

More Ïã½¶ÊÓÆµ About the Agreement

The Seattle Times: Seattle U Will Acquire Cornish

The Seattle Times on March 18, 2025: “Interim Cornish President Emily Parkhurst called it a “momentous occasion” for the 110-year-old art school, which spent most of the last decade facing a budget deficit and an uncertain future.”

Presidents of Cornish and SU shake hands

Ïã½¶ÊÓÆµroom: Agreement Sets Stage for Cornish at SU

With the Ïã½¶ÊÓÆµ and Cornish College of the Arts announcement of the signing of an agreement that will establish Cornish College of the Arts at Ïã½¶ÊÓÆµ, the stage is set for an enhanced and innovative future for arts education.

building facade of Cornish

General FAQs

In fall 2024, leaders of the two storied Seattle institutions – whose mission and values are well aligned – began discussing how the institutions might enhance arts education and provide a sustainable path forward for Cornish College of the Arts. Following a thorough review of options, the boards of the two institutions approved an agreement known as an asset contribution. The presidents signed the agreement on March 14, 2025.  

The transaction is anticipated to close on June 2, 2025, subject to regulatory approvals and satisfaction of other conditions. Upon closing of the transaction, Cornish will contribute substantially all its assets to Ïã½¶ÊÓÆµ and eventually dissolve and cease to exist as a nonprofit and separate degree-granting institution. Cornish College of the Arts at Ïã½¶ÊÓÆµ will launch and operate at the South Lake Union campus. 

Ïã½¶ÊÓÆµ is evaluating hiring decisions. We anticipate making offers to most Cornish faculty and staff to ensure continuity and support for Cornish students throughout this transition and beyond. Our commitment is to both maintain and enhance the high-quality education and support that Cornish students have come to expect. This includes additional services, support and activities available to all Ïã½¶ÊÓÆµ students. Overall, Ïã½¶ÊÓÆµ’s pay scales are higher than those of Cornish. The plan is to make all decisions as soon as possible and before the end of May.

Cornish College of the Arts at Ïã½¶ÊÓÆµ will operate at the South Lake Union campus. 

The two-year on-campus residential living requirement for both campuses will remain in place for this upcoming academic year. Cornish students will remain in the Cornish Commons on the South Lake Union campus. Cornish students can apply for housing and get questions addressed via the .  Incoming first-year and second-year Ïã½¶ÊÓÆµ students will continue to live at the Ïã½¶ÊÓÆµ, First Hill campus. Ïã½¶ÊÓÆµ students can get more information and apply for housing on the Ïã½¶ÊÓÆµ Housing & Dining website. During the 2025–2026 academic year, we will be exploring future housing options that may be available to Ïã½¶ÊÓÆµ and Cornish College of Art @ Ïã½¶ÊÓÆµ students.

Yes!  Cornish College of the Arts at Ïã½¶ÊÓÆµ will continue to offer programs, which provide inclusive, high-quality arts education for youth, adults, and professionals.  From pre-college programs such as and , to advanced training and professional development in and partner programs, Ïã½¶ÊÓÆµ will support creative growth at every stage, welcoming all to explore, connect, and thrive in the visual and performing arts.

This is an exciting time for Ïã½¶ÊÓÆµ and Cornish students alike as we work to establish Cornish College of the Arts at Ïã½¶ÊÓÆµ.  While cross-campus course enrollments are not allowed at this time due to federal regulatory requirements, we will be exploring these possibilities very soon. When the transaction closes, the University will seek approval from the U.S. Department of Education for the Cornish location and academic programs to be approved as a Ïã½¶ÊÓÆµ location and programs. As the transaction and regulatory process move forward, we will keep SU students informed of the possibility to enroll in course offerings at the Cornish campus location.  

If you’ve been admitted to both Ïã½¶ÊÓÆµ and Cornish for Fall 2025, congratulations! That means you have a unique choice to make. While Ïã½¶ÊÓÆµ is teaching out the Cornish programs, the academic majors offered by each school remain distinct. If you choose to pursue one of the Cornish Design programs, you’ll be considered a Ïã½¶ÊÓÆµ student and have access to all SU services—but you’ll follow the Cornish curriculum in full. If you choose a Ïã½¶ÊÓÆµ major like Interdisciplinary Arts (IA), you’ll follow the Ïã½¶ÊÓÆµ curriculum and core. You’ll confirm your enrollment with the school whose program you choose. 
 
Your financial aid will match the program you choose. If you select a Cornish Design program, the Cornish aid package you received will apply—but it will be adjusted to reflect Ïã½¶ÊÓÆµ tuition, so that your cost remains the same. If you choose a Ïã½¶ÊÓÆµ program, your Ïã½¶ÊÓÆµ aid package will apply. You cannot combine or “mix and match” the two aid packages. 

All students entering in Fall 2025—whether you choose a Ïã½¶ÊÓÆµ program or a Cornish Design program—will be Ïã½¶ÊÓÆµ students. You’ll have full access to Ïã½¶ÊÓÆµ amenities and services regardless of which program you select. 

Ïã½¶ÊÓÆµ intends to honor the purpose of all endowed funds established at Cornish College of the Arts. Cornish and Ïã½¶ÊÓÆµ are working to engage with donors and any other required parties to ensure that those funds continue to support scholarships, visiting artists, and academic programs through the new Cornish College of the Arts at Ïã½¶ÊÓÆµ.

If you have included Cornish College of the Arts in your estate plans, we encourage you to update your documents to name Ïã½¶ÊÓÆµ for the benefit of Cornish College of the Arts at Ïã½¶ÊÓÆµ as the beneficiary. This helps ensure your legacy gift is received and directed exactly as you intend. Ïã½¶ÊÓÆµ will honor all donor-directed purposes associated with planned gifts, just as Cornish would have. Our advancement team is available to help with suggested language or documentation updates.

The target closing date was moved from May 31 to June 2 to account for the 31 falling on a Saturday.

Faculty and staff members can update their profiles in the Faculty and Staff Directory by submitting a , which can be found on the Redhawk Hub intranet. Please note that a personal Ïã½¶ÊÓÆµ email account is required for all submissions; listserv accounts cannot be used.

For additional details, including formatting guidelines for CVs and profile images, please refer to on the Web Support Knowledge Hub (login required).

FAQs for Cornish Students

Following regulatory approval and closing of the transaction, students enrolled at Cornish College of the Arts may elect to continue their program at Cornish College of the Arts at Ïã½¶ÊÓÆµ. This transition is made possible by executed by the institutions. Teach-outs are written plans and agreements approved by accrediting agencies that allow students to finish a program of study even if their institution closes or the program of study is closed to new students. Our admissions teams are working together to make this transition process as smooth as possible.

Not much is expected to change in terms of the classroom or academic experience if you are a current or incoming Cornish student transitioning to Ïã½¶ÊÓÆµ. Cornish College of the Arts at Ïã½¶ÊÓÆµ will be on a semester schedule. There will be no additional changes to the . Additionally, you will have access to the support services and wide array of student life activities and programming available to all Ïã½¶ÊÓÆµ students. This will include services and activities on the South Lake Union campus in addition to those offered at the university’s main campus. 

Under the Teach-Out Agreement the parties have agreed upon, students who participate in the teach-out arrangement at SU will receive an amount of financial aid such that they will not be financially responsible for more out-of-pocket tuition costs than they would have been at Cornish for academic year 2025-2026.  In subsequent academic years, such amount will increase by the same percentage as any increase in tuition for other SU undergraduate students. 

Yes, if you have already submitted your 2025-26 FAFSA, you will need to go to the and make a correction to add Ïã½¶ÊÓÆµ's School Code of 003790. If you haven’t completed your 2025-26 FAFSA, please make sure you add both Cornish College of the Arts school code 012315 and Ïã½¶ÊÓÆµ's School Code of 003790. If you have any questions, please reach out to finaid@cornish.edu.

If your financial circumstances have changed, please reach out to Cornish’s Office of Financial Aid at finaid@cornish.edu for information on a Special Circumstances review.  They will be happy to assist you.

Students graduating in 2026 and onward would receive a degree granted from Cornish College of the Arts, Ïã½¶ÊÓÆµ with that wording, or similar, printed on the diploma.

Yes. Cornish students can schedule an appointment with a Cornish advisor through the OnceHub scheduling links listed below.

  • - Acting/Original Works, Musical Theater, Dance, and Performance Production
  • - Art, Design, Illustration, Interaction Design, and Interior Architecture
  • - Animation, Film, Game Art, and Music
  • - International & VA Students 

For current and incoming Cornish students transitioning to Ïã½¶ÊÓÆµ, you will be able to complete your degree program as planned, with an academic experience that remains true to your expectations. Additionally, you will have access to the support, services and wide array of student life activities and programming available to all Ïã½¶ÊÓÆµ students. 

Yes. In connection with the asset contribution agreement, the institutions have executed Teach-Out Agreements. If the transaction closes as expected, under the main all current and incoming Cornish students will have the opportunity to complete their Cornish degree programs through Ïã½¶ÊÓÆµ. If the transaction does not close, then under a separate current and incoming Cornish students in all programs except Interior Architecture, Dance, and Game Art, will have the opportunity to transfer into similar SU programs in order to complete their degrees through Ïã½¶ÊÓÆµ. Students who participate in the teach-out arrangements at SU will have access to the support, services, and wide array of student life activities and programming available to all Ïã½¶ÊÓÆµ students. 

Teach-outs are written plans and agreements approved by accrediting agencies that allow students to finish a program of study even if their institution closes or the program of study is closed to new students.  

Students at Cornish College of the Arts at Ïã½¶ÊÓÆµ will continue to have access to housing at Cornish Commons, and the two-year on-campus residential living requirement will still be in place. Cornish Commons is across the street from Cornish College of the Arts’ Main Campus Center and Nellie’s Café in Seattle. You can apply online at the . During the 2025–2026 academic year, we will be exploring future housing options that may be available to students.

Yes. During the 2025-2026 academic year, Ïã½¶ÊÓÆµ will provide 100% subsidized ORCA cards for Cornish College of the Arts at Ïã½¶ÊÓÆµ students. This support is designed to make it easier for you to get around the city — including traveling between the South Lake Union campus and Ïã½¶ÊÓÆµ’s main campus on First Hill — and to fully access all that Seattle has to offer. We hope this benefit helps make your first year as part of the Ïã½¶ÊÓÆµ community as smooth and connected as possible.

For the 2025-26 academic year, there will be no significant changes to the Cornish Student Senate (CSS). In academic year 2025-2026, a representative from CSS will be elected as a liaison to the Student Government at Ïã½¶ÊÓÆµ (SGSU). The expectation is for CSS to be fully integrated into SGSU for academic year 2026-2027. 

Cornish students can use the to contact us with any questions you may have. Also, please continue to check this page as we will update it as needed and when additional information becomes available. 

FAQs for Cornish Alumni

You can request your Cornish transcript through the .

Transcripts will list your alma mater as “Cornish College of the Arts at Ïã½¶ÊÓÆµ.” They also include a statement noting the date Cornish closed, the asset contribution to Ïã½¶ÊÓÆµ and details of the teach-out agreement.

Yes. We are migrating alumni records from the Cornish database into Ïã½¶ÊÓÆµ’s system. Moving forward, Cornish alumni will be included in the same alumni database as all other Ïã½¶ÊÓÆµ graduates, and their data will be managed consistently and securely.

Yes. You will continue to have access to your Cornish alumni email account. In the future, there may be a transition from the @cornish.edu domain to a @seattleu.edu domain as part of the integration. If that happens, your email content will be preserved and accessible through your new account. We will provide advance notice and support to make the transition as smooth as possible.

No. As part of the transition and integration with Ïã½¶ÊÓÆµ, all card access associated with the South Lake Union campus was reset. This means Cornish alumni cards no longer provide access to campus facilities.

University administration is currently assessing the practice of alumni access to campus buildings as we continue the integration process. We will share updates as decisions are made. 

Kaylee Donahue, Assistant Director of Alumni Engagement for Cornish College of the Arts at Ïã½¶ÊÓÆµ, will be the primary contact.

All past gifts to Cornish, whether to the annual fund, scholarships, campus facilities, or specific programs, remain in effect and continue to support their original purpose. These contributions are an important part of Cornish’s legacy and will be honored moving forward. Similar giving opportunities will continue under Cornish College of the Arts at Ïã½¶ÊÓÆµ, but please know your past gifts remain secure, active and impactful.

You can continue supporting Cornish College at Ïã½¶ÊÓÆµ programs by making a gift online through our secure donation form.

You may also mail your gift to:

Ïã½¶ÊÓÆµ
c/o University Advancement
901 12th Avenue
Seattle, WA 98122

Please make checks payable to Ïã½¶ÊÓÆµ and note in the memo line the specific Cornish program or scholarship you wish to support.

We are actively working to develop a structure that respects and preserves the unique identity of the Cornish Alumni Association while also exploring ways to integrate Cornish alumni with the broader Ïã½¶ÊÓÆµ alumni network. We aim to offer opportunities for engagement that reflect the preferences of Cornish alumni, whether that means maintaining a distinct community, joining the larger network, or a combination of both. This process is ongoing, and we appreciate your patience as we shape the best path forward.

Some changes to existing Cornish alumni benefits will occur as part of the integration process. Wherever possible, we are working to ensure that Cornish alumni not only retain meaningful benefits but also gain access to a wide range of resources, services and opportunities currently offered to the Ïã½¶ÊÓÆµ alumni community. We will share more details as the process continues.

We’ll share updates and opportunities over time, primarily through email. We are also available to answer any questions you may have. 

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