The president of Salus University in Elkins Park announced today that plans for a merger with Drexel University are expected to be finalized by next summer.

The affiliation would link the schools’ graduate health sciences education and clinical practice programs. The boards of both institutions have approved of the plan.

Layoffs are not expected among Salus’ teachers, though Michael Mittelman, Salus’ president, said that administrative bodies may be consolidated at some point going forward.

Salus’ three clinical facilities in Montgomery County and Philadelphia will be unaffected, though the main campus’ academic programs and operational units are expected to integrate with Drexel in some capacity.

What’s in it for Salus: According to The Philadelphia Inquirer, “students would gain access to Drexel’s facilities, including its recently opened health sciences building, as well as its signature co-op program that places students in paid, six-month work experiences as part of their education.”

According to The Inquirer, Salus’s fiscal position is solid and the school has not lost revenue in the last two years.

For additional coverage, you and read The Inquirer’s article here. For Drexel’s announcement, you can click here.

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Photo courtesy of Salus University