Paier College Moving Out Of Hamden

HAMDEN, CT — Paier College of Art announced Monday that it is moving to Bridgeport and is taking a new name with it.

Paier College of Art, which officials said will be known as Paier College effective immediately, is moving to the University of Bridgeport’s campus. The new name embraces the growth of the school’s degree offerings, including marketing and communications, beyond traditional visual arts, according to officials.

Paier, Goodwin University, and the University of Bridgeport (UB) announced plans last June to create an innovative co-location model for higher education in Bridgeport. Paier College plans to begin moving its operations out of Hamden to Bridgeport in time for the fall semester.

A Paier spokesperson told the New Haven Register there were no plans to sell the Hamden campus.

“As we evaluated the best path forward to achieve our long-term goals, it became clear that changing our name to embrace the growth of our programs and relocating to Bridgeport would offer the greatest benefits to our current and future students and faculty,” Paier College President Joseph M. Bierbaum said in a news release. “Our mission promises the delivery of a forward-thinking curriculum by fostering curiosity and innovation. As our student body becomes more academically and geographically diverse, I can’t think of a better setting to provide for their inspiration and development than this beautiful place. In sharing the news of this move with our Paier community, the response has been overwhelmingly positive.”

As part of the agreement with UB and Goodwin, Paier College is anticipating approval from the Connecticut Office of Higher Education and is seeking approval from the U.S. Department of Education and its accreditors to offer certain degrees currently offered at UB. Those programs include bachelor’s degrees in industrial design, digital marketing, mass communication, and marketing.

Upon Paier’s transition, it will occupy the Arnold Bernhard Center for Arts & Humanities and the Cooper Hall Dormitory along with two additional buildings on the southwest side of the campus, according to the news release. The nine-story Arnold Bernhard Center sits on Long Island Sound and houses a 1,000-seat performing arts theater, a permanent art gallery and dozens of classrooms, offices, and performance and event spaces.

The 140-bed Cooper Hall dormitory will allow Paier College to offer on-campus housing to accommodate current Paier students, as well as UB students whose programs will be offered by Paier, according to officials. Paier College also plans to share resources including libraries, recreation and fitness centers, dining halls, health services, security and more with UB and Goodwin.

“As a home to hundreds of artists and innovators, the arts have always been an integral part of our city,” Bridgeport Mayor Joe Ganim said in a statement. “We are thrilled Paier College has decided to call Bridgeport home. Paier will help us continue to inspire a more vibrant and creative community and provide more opportunities for our residents of all ages to enjoy the arts.”