Ë®¹ûÅÉAV

What's next?

With their college closed and a desire to continue their studies, the students had to overcome their anger and sadness about Wells to find a new academic home.

Ë®¹ûÅÉAV interviewed former Wells College students for this story. They recalled why they chose Wells, how they found out about the closure and where they decided to continue their collegiate careers.

Those who responded to Ë®¹ûÅÉAV's inquiry provided much more information than could be used in this story. Some provided lengthy responses filled with emotion about their decision to attend Wells, how the closure affected them and the experiences at their new schools.

What those answers show is an enduring love for Wells College, one year after it closed.

Why Wells?

From a young age through high school, Serif Malanowski wanted to pursue a technology career. They planned to attend the Rochester Institute of Technology, but later focused on studying either astronomy or quantum mechanics at the University at Buffalo.

After graduating from high school during the COVID-19 pandemic, Malanowski opted for a gap year. Meanwhile, their younger sisters began looking at colleges in the Finger Lakes. The sisters, joined by their mother, toured Wells College in Aurora.

"All three came home at the end of that weekend and immediately began telling me about this tiny liberal arts school on (Cayuga Lake), about their art program, and about how quiet the school was," Malanowski said. "Neither of my sisters thought Wells was for them, but they and my mom immediately thought it was for me."

Malanowski visited the campus with their parents. What convinced them Wells was a great fit is a tour of Morgan Hall and the Book Arts Center — what became their "true home on campus."

When Malanowski and their parents stopped at the Fargo for a meal, they decided to enroll at Wells as a book arts major.

"My parents spoke about how they saw me just light up like I never had before," they said. "I truly fell in love with Wells on that day."

Other former students interviewed by Ë®¹ûÅÉAV said they chose Wells College because it "felt like home."

Rei Meaker wanted to attend a college far from her family and searched for a school "in the middle of the woods," they wrote in an email. That's when they found Wells College.

There were features Meaker liked, such as Wells being a former women's college. But it still wasn't their first choice — until they toured the campus.

"I knew I had to stay," Meaker said. "I ended up at the closest private college to home somehow."

Dan Adelman was a senior in high school searching for a college with small class sizes. He has attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, so he wanted to avoid larger schools.

After learning that Wells had a low student-to-teacher ratio and seeing photos of the campus, he knew it was what he wanted.

"I was drawn to Wells," Adelman said.

Brothers Joe and Johnathan Bangel provided similar answers for why they chose to attend Wells College. Joe said it was because of the "small community feel," while Johnathan said it was the college's "proximity to home."

"When I first stepped on campus, it felt like home to me," Johnthan Bangel said.

Another student, who asked to remain anonymous, told Ë®¹ûÅÉAV they chose Wells because it was a change of pace from the large high school they attended. They wanted to study at a small liberal arts college, but did not know where. When Wells emerged as an option, they said, it was a saving grace.

Liz Purcell, who was the final student body president and member of the last graduating class at Wells College in 2024, recalled her experience visiting the Aurora campus for the first time.

"Instantly, I knew not only could I see myself on the physical campus, but I really fell in love with the greater Aurora area," she said.

Purcell graduated from high school during the COVID-19 pandemic, which made her eager to go to Wells. The college experience provided a fresh start for her after the lockdown.

One memory Purcell shared is the notice from Wells that it may have to close if then-Gov. Andrew Cuomo did not allow in-person college classes in fall 2020. She panicked because she had already connected with future classmates on social media and in virtual meetings. They began developing backup plans in case the college did not reopen.

"Luckily, we were able to move on campus and all was well," Purcell said. "So, when they announced the real closure two weeks before graduation (in April 2024), I think the class of 2024 had a major deja vu moment."

'My home was gone'

The now-infamous 7 a.m. email on the morning of April 29, 2024, notified Wells College alumni, faculty, staff and students that the institution would close at the end of the semester. The announcement was made at the beginning of the final week of classes.

Johnathan Bangel thought it was fake. His brother, Joe, was shocked.

"I knew that small schools had closed in the past, but I never thought it would happen to Wells," Joe said.

Serif Malanowski felt their phone buzzing around 7 a.m., but wanted to sleep in another hour before classes. When they checked their phone, there were several emails. The first they read was a notification that all classes were canceled.

The next email Malanowski opened was the closure announcement.

"I read the first words, and I just remember feeling like my world just stopped," they said. "I can't even begin to describe how I physically felt, as I felt the pain and shock physically and mentally. I remember tears instantly flowing and screaming. I remember hyperventilating and sobbing hysterically. My home was gone."

Rei Meaker was among the students who weren't surprised at the college's closure. However, they felt disrespected by the college's leadership.

"We had made comments many times about the school closing after my class was gone and were told that the school was doing okay enough for us to finish," Meaker said.

Liz Purcell, who was a student teacher while attending Wells, told Ë®¹ûÅÉAV she received a text message from her cooperating teacher the day before the closure announcement asking if she needed help on April 29.

Adding to Purcell's suspicion was a call from a friend about rumors regarding the college's future.

At 9 p.m. Sunday, 10 hours before Wells' official announcement, Purcell said she and other student teachers received an email from Susan Henking, who was the college's vice president of academic and student affairs at the time. Henking advised them to remain on campus and notified their schools they would not be in class.

"As I kept rereading this email over and over and connecting all the dots, I had the most painful gut feeling ever, that something really bad was going to happen on Monday," Purcell said.

Searching for a new school

Students who experience a college closure are less likely to reenroll at another institution and earn their degree, according to the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center.

When Wells College announced its closure, it had teach-out agreements with nearly two dozen institutions that would allow students to continue their education and complete their degree programs.

But the timing of the closure meant students had a short time to enroll at a new school for the fall semester.

Linda Galbato, who was director of academic and career advising at Wells College, told Ë®¹ûÅÉAV a team formed at the college to work with students. A teach-out fair was held at the Aurora campus, where representatives from the various institutions gathered to meet with students and showcase their programs.

Although the college's efforts may have eased the stress for students, Galbato acknowledges many were still angry about the closure announcement. But, she added, the students got "down to business."

"They didn't come to protest or to vent or to disrupt, but they came there to take care of their futures," she said.

Advising continued and Wells, through the college's registrar's office, provided transcripts for students to transfer to new schools.

Jackie Schnurr, dean of faculty at Wells College and a biology professor, worked with a group of faculty and staff to support students. One of the priorities, she told Ë®¹ûÅÉAV, was to ensure students who were close to graduating could earn a Wells degree.

For other students who would need to continue their education elsewhere, Schnurr said this group assisted them with finding "where they would be happiest and what schools would allow them to do what they wanted to do."

The work continued through May and June, according to Schnurr.

"Wells was very much into individual attention and we didn't stop once we made the announcement," she said.

Wells College President Susan Henking told Ë®¹ûÅÉAV in January that 82% of former students transferred to other institutions. Most went to schools that had teach-out agreements with Wells College, but 67 went to non-teach-out institutions.

The students interviewed for this story gave mostly positive reviews of Wells College's efforts. 

Dan Adelman was one of 67 Wells College students who transferred to Hobart and William Smith Colleges in Geneva. He said the Wells staff was helpful and ensured, through the teach-out agreements, that credits would transfer and students would get the same scholarships.

"It was pretty seamless," he said. "I was still getting over (Wells) closing by the time I was enrolled in (Hobart and William Smith Colleges). It was very quick."

Joe and Johnathan Bangel played basketball and golf at Wells, so they not only wanted to find a new school but one where they could continue their athletic careers.

The process was difficult, according to Joe Bangel. With Wells announcing the closure at the end of April, the brothers were late entrants to the transfer portal. They spent most of the summer searching for the "perfect fit," Joe said.

The Bangels transferred to Hartwick College, where they are members of the men's basketball team.

Serif Malanowski had a different experience because they opted to transfer to a non-teach-out institution, the Rochester Institute of Technology.

"I didn't like any of the teach-out schools or their programs, or had heard less than stellar things from friends, family members and students, or wasn't willing to travel far from Rochester for many reasons," Malanowski said. "I only applied to RIT."

As a book arts major at Wells, Malanowski decided to apply to join RIT's printmaking program. However, their application was initially rejected before the school reconsidered and accepted them for the fall 2024 semester.

Malanowski likes parts of RIT, especially being close to her family. But they are overwhelmed by the campus and size of classes.

"In the fall, there were as many students in one of my classes as there were students in my graduating class at Wells," they said. "I can't work in the studio with as much trust and freedom as I did at Wells, because it's harder to get to know the faculty and there's more classes with less free studio time."

The memories

The former Wells College students interviewed for this story hold onto many memories from their time at the Aurora campus.

Joe Bangel remembers the atmosphere inside the team room after their first conference win. Johnathan Bangel recalls the fun his teams had on road trips.

Dan Adelman appreciated the camaraderie at the college. Rei Meaker described a community "that I have never seen elsewhere."

Nearly every student mentioned the campus in some form, whether it's a building or the landscape. Meaker said while they are grateful for the friendships and memories, the best moments come from taking in "the quiet beauty of the campus."

"I could probably tell you dozens of spots to sit on campus and watch the sunset," they said.

One former student, who agreed to an interview on the condition of anonymity, told Ë®¹ûÅÉAV it is "impossible to briefly say what memories of Wells I will carry with me." Their memories include the college's traditions, such as the odd-even competition, and the community.

"Most of all, I'll remember the sense of belonging I experienced at Wells," they said. "It was unlike anything else. I had never felt that way before, and I don't think I ever will again."