Troy University’s Phenix City campus will close at the end of 2025 after the Board of Trustees voted on Saturday to cease operations. This comes after the university announced last semester that eight additional, smaller satellite campuses located in other states would also be closed by 2026.
Chancellor Dr. Jack Hawkins Jr. said the decision came after an analysis of operating costs, enrollment trends and institutional priorities. He cited a 2022 article from the Hechinger Report that connects the closure of 9,000 universities over the past two decades with an increased demand for online education.
“Troy University’s Phenix City Campus has played a vital role in our mission and educational outreach for over five decades, significantly contributing to higher education in East Alabama,” said Hawkins in a university press release. “However, as more adult learners shift toward online and flexible learning options, demand for traditional in-person instruction at satellite locations has declined.
“This decision was not made lightly, and I am profoundly grateful to the faculty, staff, students and community leaders who have built the Phenix City Campus’s legacy of excellence.”
The board meeting decision authorizes Hawkins to develop a transition plan to ensure current students can complete their degree program and assist faculty and staff transitions. He said the hope is that many employees will be able to continue their roles at other campuses or online.
Troy University staff will continue to have a presence at Fort Benning, formally known as Fort Moore, a nearby military base straddling the Alabama/Georgia border, to provide educational opportunities for active-duty soldiers.
“Although we may no longer have a physical presence, our unwavering commitment to serving students in the Phenix City and Columbus area, including Fort Moore, and supporting the community remains steadfast,” said Vice Chancellor of the Phenix City campus Dr. Dionne Rosser-Mims.
Troy University will work with local and state leaders to find a new occupant for the riverfront building that has housed the campus since 2015. Troy University has served the Phenix City and Columbus areas since 1974 with a satellite office at Fort Benning before opening a campus next to the Chattahoochee Community College in 1975.
Phenix City was one of four Alabama campuses. Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Dr. Kerry Palmer said there are no plans to close the Mongomery or Dothan campuses.
“Changing economic conditions and shifting institutional priorities require strategic decisions to ensure Troy University’s long-term financial sustainability,” Palmer said in the press release. “We are actively developing new programs and engaging with external partners, and we look forward to announcing several new initiatives for Dothan and Montgomery in the near future.”
The campuses in Fayetteville, North Carolina; Hampton Roads, Virgina; and Pacific Region have already closed, and the campuses in Panama City, Florida; Pensacola, Florida; Augusta, Georgia; Clarksville, Tennessee; and Brunswic[HC1] k, Georgia will be closed by Dec. 31.
[HC1]Need to add the states behind all of these.Troy University’s Phenix City campus will close at the end of 2025 after the Board of Trustees voted on Saturday to cease operations. This comes after the university announced last semester that eight additional, smaller satellite campuses located in other states would also be closed by 2026.
Chancellor Dr. Jack Hawkins Jr. said the decision came after an analysis of operating costs, enrollment trends and institutional priorities. He cited a 2022 article from the Hechinger Report that connects the closure of 9,000 universities over the past two decades with an increased demand for online education.
“Troy University’s Phenix City Campus has played a vital role in our mission and educational outreach for over five decades, significantly contributing to higher education in East Alabama,” said Hawkins in a university press release. “However, as more adult learners shift toward online and flexible learning options, demand for traditional in-person instruction at satellite locations has declined.
“This decision was not made lightly, and I am profoundly grateful to the faculty, staff, students and community leaders who have built the Phenix City Campus’s legacy of excellence.”
The board meeting decision authorizes Hawkins to develop a transition plan to ensure current students can complete their degree program and assist faculty and staff transitions. He said the hope is that many employees will be able to continue their roles at other campuses or online.
Troy University staff will continue to have a presence at Fort Benning, formally known as Fort Moore, a nearby military base straddling the Alabama/Georgia border, to provide educational opportunities for active-duty soldiers.
“Although we may no longer have a physical presence, our unwavering commitment to serving students in the Phenix City and Columbus area, including Fort Moore, and supporting the community remains steadfast,” said Vice Chancellor of the Phenix City campus Dr. Dionne Rosser-Mims.
Troy University will work with local and state leaders to find a new occupant for the riverfront building that has housed the campus since 2015. Troy University has served the Phenix City and Columbus areas since 1974 with a satellite office at Fort Benning before opening a campus next to the Chattahoochee Community College in 1975.
Phenix City was one of four Alabama campuses. Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Dr. Kerry Palmer said there are no plans to close the Mongomery or Dothan campuses.
“Changing economic conditions and shifting institutional priorities require strategic decisions to ensure Troy University’s long-term financial sustainability,” Palmer said in the press release. “We are actively developing new programs and engaging with external partners, and we look forward to announcing several new initiatives for Dothan and Montgomery in the near future.”
The campuses in Fayetteville, North Carolina; Hampton Roads, Virgina; and Pacific Region have already closed, and the campuses in Panama City, Florida; Pensacola, Florida; Augusta, Georgia; Clarksville, Tennessee; and Brunswic[HC1] k, Georgia will be closed by Dec. 31.
Troy's Phenix City campus overlooks the Chattahoochee River.
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