The announcement that US-based university SHU caught both students and staff off guard. Only a few people in the university’s headquarters in Fairfield, Connecticut were aware of the upcoming changes, revealed to Delano head of SHU’s campus in the grand duchy Antoine Rech. When Delano spoke to the SHU Luxembourg staff they were not aware of any tuition discount that students will receive for their Masters of Business Administration. The US campus after this article was first published said they would receive a 40% rebate.

Students enrolled in SHU Luxembourg will be able to continue their studies online. The closure of the campus is part of a new strategy to switch to digital learning and not related to lack of enrolment, confirmed Rech. It is also not clear if Marcus Muller, professor of management at SHU Luxembourg will be retained by the university.

Following the closure’s announcement, education minister Meisch sent a letter to the Chair of the Board of Regents and to Rech expressing his regret at the short-term closure of the SHU. He also called a meeting with the Chair, asking for information of the circumstances and consequences of the closure.

The education ministry, however, does not regulate SHU diplomas because the university does not issue Luxembourg graduation certificates. The higher education establishment and the ministry are therefore not linked directly by an accreditation or a convention. This may prove to be a hurdle for students wishing to transfer to the Luxembourg School of Business (LSB), which offers an MBA degree. LSB told Delano it is too early to provide any comments on this matter.

All programs offered by Sacred Heart University’s both in the U.S. and Luxembourg are accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business and the university's credits are accepted by any institution in the world.

Updated on 25 May at 8.35am to include comments from an SHU spokesperson in Connecticut.