Drexel and Salus Universities
Drexel University and Salus University have signed an agreement to merge the institutions.
This page contains the latest available information, please check back for regular updates.
While the merger will still require regulatory and judicial approvals, the merger will bring together the complementary strengths of both institutions in graduate health sciences education, research, and clinical practice. It would strengthen Drexel’s place as a leader in preparing future interprofessional health sciences practitioners by adding renowned Salus graduate degree programs such as optometry, audiology, blindness and low vision studies, speech-language pathology, occupational therapy, and orthotics and prosthetics. In addition, a merger with Salus would expand our physician assistant program, graduate enrollment, and promote interdisciplinary research opportunities in new areas.
Drexel President John Fry and Salus President Michael Mittelman have formed an Integration Council comprising faculty and professional staff from both universities that will address how and when academic programs and operational units will become part of Drexel’s structure. The work of the Integration Council is the next step in moving this opportunity forward and will take a year or more to fully complete.
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Drexel Professor of Product Design, June He, and Dr. Melissa Trego, Dean of the Salus University Pennsylvania College of Optometry at The Eye Institute.
Drexel-Salus Integration Frequently Asked Questions
The merger of Salus University and Drexel University represents the future of interprofessional health sciences education, clinical practice, and research. This unity will bring together Salus’ strengths in top health science professions such as optometry, audiology, blindness and low vision studies, speech-language pathology, occupational therapy, and orthotics and prosthetics together with Drexel’s strengths as an R1 research institution that combines world-class academics with real-world experience.
This merger will enable Salus and Drexel to provide a wide variety of exciting opportunities for students, faculty, and partners in new fields and research areas. It expands the reach of Salus’ leading edge health science education and both institutions’ shared commitment to community-centered patient care.
Both institutions are financially strong and the merger is not financially motivated. The merger of Salus and Drexel will strengthen graduate program offerings and broaden interdisciplinary research opportunities for the new combined university. These benefits will provide both institutions with greater long-term financial stability in an ever-increasing competitive environment, and this integrated collaboration will allow for continued innovation in graduate health sciences education and clinical practice for all stakeholders.
Salus and Drexel are actively working on plans to complete the corporate merger on June 30, 2024, assuming that we are on the June 2024 Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) accreditation body’s agenda for approval. If that occurs and is approved by MSCHE, then Salus and its related entities will cease to exist and be merged into Drexel University.
The second step for approval is the U.S. Department of Education, which requires that Salus keep its student functions separate until they have approved the educational merger which is anticipated to be by July 1, 2025. Until that time Salus will maintain its student programs/course offerings, registration, billing, and financial aid systems.
An Integration Council was established in September 2023 with broad membership from across both Salus University and Drexel University to work on a plan for the following areas of integration:
- academics and faculty
- human resources
- space/real estate/facilities
- enrollment, marketing, and student success
- finance/accounting/investments/alumni/fundraising
- clinical facilities
Several threads woven throughout these vertical areas include: information technology, communications and branding, DEIB, culture/student-centered, legal, revenue enhancements, and expense reductions.
All tasks related to integration are being carefully assessed and scheduled on a timeline to allow for the least amount of disruption to ongoing work and projects across both entities.
When the merger is completed on June 30, 2024, Salus University will combine all its assets, including its campus properties, with Drexel University’s assets. As a result, Drexel will own all facilities associated with Salus University on the date of the merger.
Salus’ campuses will continue to be located in their present locations for the foreseeable future.
It is anticipated that the Department of Education approval will not take effect until after July 1, 2025. Until Drexel receives formal approval by the U.S. Department of Education, Salus is required to confer degrees separately from Drexel.
