Forest Institute for Professional Psychology is closing its doors in the fall of 2015 after 30 years in Springfield.
School officials cited continuing financial difficulties as the reason behind the closure and said a teach-out plan will soon be submitted to the Higher Learning Commission for the students currently enrolled at Forest, according to a release from Kent Ragan, chairman of the board of trustees at Forest Institute.
Ragan said students at the school who are on pace to finish their degrees by the end of the summer will be able to do so through Forest Institute. But as for students who still have several semesters of work remaining, finishing at Forest does not look like an option.
"If students are not that far along in their program, we will help them look for other alternatives," Ragan said.
Ragan also said Gerald Porter will resign as acting president of Forest Institute on Friday because he is taking a position at another institution. Porter was named president less than two months ago, on Oct. 31.
A message left for Porter with a school receptionist was not returned. Ragan declined to say where Porter was going.
Megan Weaver, the dean of master's programs at the school, will step in as acting president, Marcie Kirkup will be the executive vice president for accreditation and operations, Michele Williams will be the chief academic officer, and Robert Gagnon will become the controller, the release says.
The school, which has a location at 2885 W. Battlefield Road in Springfield and another location in St. Louis, is no longer accepting new applications, but Ragan said Forest Institute will offer classes throughout the spring and summer.
The release says faculty and administration at Forest Institute are working with several accrediting bodies to develop teach-out plans for students so they can complete their degrees. A formal teach-out plan for Forest's smaller St. Louis location was submitted to the Higher Learning Commission in November, and administrators are hoping to submit their teach-out plan for the Springfield campus in mid-January, according to the release.
The Higher Learning Commission must approve all teach-out plans before specific details of the plans can be shared, according to the release.
Forest's partner, Burrell Behavioral Health, has committed funds to support the anticipated teach-out plans, the release says.
Forest also operates the Robert J. Murney Clinic at 1322 S. Campbell Ave. An official with the Murney Clinic said earlier this month the clinic would have a program as long as Forest Institute was a school.
At the Murney Clinic, psychology students, who are overseen by professional therapists, help clients who are allowed to pay on a sliding scale based on income.
The News-Leader reported in November that tax returns show that Forest Institute has run in the red for four of the past six years, operating at a net deficit of $757,309 over those years — ending Sept. 30, 2013.
According to the College Navigator website, Forest enrolls about 254 students in degree programs that include a master's degree, a post-master's certificate and a doctoral degree in professional practice.
As recently as three weeks ago, Forest Institute's website displayed a banner headline saying "Apply Now for 2015!" Now, however, people who click on the website's "Apply Online" link are met with a message that says, "Forest is no longer accepting applications for programs in Springfield and St. Louis. If you have previously made an inquiry or application to one of our programs and would like to speak with one of our representatives, please contact us at 417-823-3477."