SIUE offering tuition discount for eligible Fontbonne transfers

EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. – Former Fontbonne student Darren Luchetti recalls the day in March when the university's baseball coach broke the news to his team that Fontbonne would be closing .

"It was a huge shock," Luchetti said, who has since transferred to Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville.

"SIUE was super helpful in the process," he said.

One of the factors was a tuition break. SIUE is offering a 50 percent tuition discount for up to six semesters for Fontbonne transfers in good academic standing. The university is also waiving a $40 application fee.

Luchetti is a math major and secured a spot as manager for the SIUE basketball team. The college junior also wanted to stay in the St. Louis area.

SIUE registrar Patrick Sears said that's one reason the university immediately began looking for ways to help Fontbonne students.

"They don't have to uproot their whole lives to change their school," he said. "They can still be in the St. Louis area, the community, and still complete their academic goals here."

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Fontbonne officials tell us the university is grateful for the support that SIUE and other universities are providing to students. Fontbonne has teach-out agreements with 25 other colleges and universities aimed at helping students interested in transferring.

Luchetti just hopes no other students experience the feeling he had back in March.

"Immediately it was super scary, but SIUE was super helpful in the process and obviously I'm still in college," he said.

SIUE officials report receiving 14 applications from Fontbonne students for the current semester.