Tennessee Temple University students raise their hands as theysing during worship service Tuesday, Mar. 3, 2015, in Chattanooga, Tenn., after TTU announced that it will close and merge with Piedmont International University at the end of the semester. Students at Tennessee Temple University won’t be left without options when the Highland Park campus shuts down in two months.
College officials announced plans this week to merge the college with Piedmont International University in Winston-Salem, N.C. Nearly all of the Highland Park campus now belongs to Redemption Point Church, which plans to renovate college buildings and open a school of ministry.
On Tuesday, Piedmont President Charles Petitt said the North Carolina college of about 600 students would be offering steep discounts to Tennessee Temple students, as well as relatives of Temple’s alumni and staff.
“No one will pay more than they pay now,” Petitt said. “Most everyone, the vast majority will pay a lot less. But no one will pay more.”
While mergers in the corporate world often result in clear winners and losers, Petitt said this merger will be good for both Temple and Piedmont.