Stevenson University Lists Greenspring Campus 'To Explore'

OWINGS MILLS, MD — After the Baltimore Business Journal ran an article stating that Stevenson University was "for sale," the Stevenson Alumni Association provided context for the story.

"The headline of the article might have left a mistaken impression that the Greenspring campus is being sold," Stevenson Alumni Association Vice President of Marketing and Digital Communication John Buettner said in a statement on Thursday, April 18

"It is important to understand that Stevenson does not have a buyer for, nor is it currently in the process of selling the Greenspring campus," Buettner wrote.

The Greenspring campus, which is 7 miles from the residential and academic campus in Owings Mills, is home to the original school — Villa Julie College.

"As we have developed the Owings Mills campus and consolidated traditional undergraduate programs there, there are advantages to our undergraduate students of having the facilities, programs, resources, and services that they need in one location," Buettner said.

"The dramatic and robust expansion of the Owings Mills campus and the pending acquisition of the adjacent Rosewood site from the State of Maryland gives us the ability to envision a future where this is fully possible," he added.

In 2017, the state of Maryland agreed to sell the Rosewood Center, a state health facility that closed in 2009, to Stevenson University. The school would pay $1 for the 117-acre property, which will require remediation. The university plans to demolish the structures at the site, according to the proposal.

RELATED: Rosewood Center To Be Transferred To Stevenson University

Selling the Greenspring campus was not a sure thing, the alumni association representative said.

"...listing the property gives us a way to explore a range of possible uses for the Greenspring campus by talking with interested parties. A potential sale of the Greenspring campus is just one of several possibilities for the future of the campus," Buettner said. "We also continue to explore uses for academic programs, events and activities, and the administrative operations of the university."

The school went througha name change from Villa Julie to Stevenson University in 2008 and went on to double its enrollment — currently 4,185 — evolving from a commuter college in the Greenspring Valley to include a residential university campus in Owings Mills.

Several alumni commented on the Stevenson Alumni Association Facebook post that they were disappointed with the news since their ties were to the arts and theater components on the Greenspring campus.

"In order to remain responsive to student needs, it is vital that we consider the variety of ways we can best position the university to optimize students' campus experience," Buettner wrote. "Through this process, we remain committed to the values that have guided Villa Julie and Stevenson since day one: a close-knit community where students can find mentors and one-on-one support; exceptional experiences that inspire students and give direction to their lives; and the strong career focus that prepares them for a lifetime of success. These enduring values and our history will always be honored no matter what transitions the university might experience."