Dear Oakland City University Students and Families,

We were saddened to learn of the sudden suspension of undergraduate programs at Oakland City University for the 2026–27 academic year. We know this is more than a change in enrollment status. It is a disruption to your plans, your community, and the work you have already invested in your education.

At moments like this, higher education must do more than express concern. It must open its doors. In that spirit, DePauw University is prepared to welcome OCU undergraduate students and provide a clear path forward that protects academic progress, supports financial stability, and honors the relationships you have built.

Guided by our United Methodist heritage of hospitality and grace, our goal is simple: to provide you with a premier liberal arts environment where your education remains completely on track, without adding financial or academic burdens to your family.

To give you peace of mind, DePauw University formally commits to any OCU student in good standing:

1. Financial Support

We understand that financial predictability is vital. DePauw guarantees that your net tuition costs (tuition minus grants and scholarships) for the 2026–27 academic year will match what you would have paid at Oakland City University. DePauw will adjust our institutional scholarship and financial aid structures for each student individually to ensure this transition is affordable and within your reach.

2. Fast-Track Admission Process

We have eliminated all traditional transfer barriers.

• No application fees
• Simplified process: You can apply using our dedicated OCU Fast-Track Portal. We will accept unofficial transcripts to accelerate the process. Official transcripts are required prior to matriculation.
• 72-hour decisions: DePauw guarantees an admissions decision and a preliminary credit-review summary within three business days of receiving your information.

3. Credit Transfer

You will not lose the ground you have worked so hard to gain. DePauw guarantees that your successfully earned OCU credits, at a C or better, will be accepted.* Our registrar and academic advising teams are standing by to build a personalized academic roadmap for every single OCU student. For rising juniors and seniors, DePauw is waiving our standard institutional residency-credit requirements so that you can graduate as soon as you fulfill your degree requirements.

*DePauw does not offer credit for Oakland City University’s Math 105, 110, 115, or 120.

4. Flex-Enrollment Options

Because Oakland City University is working diligently to resume undergraduate operations for the 2027–28 academic year, we want to give you maximum flexibility:

• The Safe Harbor Track: You may join us as an integrated guest student for the 2026–27 academic year. To the extent that we can, we will align your courses to match OCU’s graduation requirements. If OCU resumes undergraduate operations in Fall 2027, we will facilitate a seamless transfer back to your home campus.
• The Permanent Tiger Track: If you prefer stability or decide that DePauw is the right permanent home for you, you have the option to stay. You can seamlessly convert to a permanent bachelor of arts or bachelor of musical arts student at any point during the year and complete your DePauw University degree when you have fulfilled those requirements.

5. Preserving Your OCU Community

A university is defined by its people. To help you maintain the bonds you’ve formed at OCU, DePauw will offer dedicated cohort housing opportunities. If you and a group of OCU classmates wish to transfer together, we will work to house you in the same residential community on our Greencastle campus, ensuring you have a built-in network of familiar faces from day one.

Please rest assured that we have structured this framework as a student-focused teach-out agreement, ensuring that your credits, financial aid matching, and path to graduation are fully and formally safeguarded.

Next Steps and Personal Support

We know you have urgent questions about specific majors and campus life. We have established a dedicated landing page and a specialized task force of admissions counselor-advisors specifically for you.

• Submit your fast-track transfer application: 
  https://apply.depauw.edu/register/fasttracktransfer
• See DePauw’s campus for yourself: Schedule a tour and meet with an admission officer at your convenience Monday through Friday at depauw.edu/visit
• Contact Your Dedicated Liaison Team: 765-658-4006; Brandon Doty, Transfer Admission Specialist, brandondoty@depauw.edu; Loutfi Jirari, AVP for International Admission, intladmission@depauw.edu

Though our traditions are distinct, we share a belief in the worth of every person and the call to serve others with courage and compassion. In that same spirit, we want you to know that there is room for you here, room to bring your questions, your convictions, and your hopes for the future. If this season has unsettled your plans, it has not diminished your potential. We would be honored to walk alongside you as you discern your next step.