Shrunken College of Santa Fe opens

SANTA FE, NM (KRQE) - Six months after trustees voted to shut down New Mexico's oldest college, the College of Santa Fe opened for the fall as usual but with far fewer students.

Three months ago CSF students were wondering if they would have to find another school, and some professors were looking for other jobs.

But thanks to a bailout the school is welcoming students for the fall semester.

“I remember driving around last spring thinking, I'm never going to see any of this again, or I'm never going to see any of these people again," sophomore Lindsey Mackin said. "I was starting to accept it.

"So I really accepted that I wasn't going to be here, but I'm here."

The state, the city of Santa Fe and the private company that now operates the campus put up more than $30 million to keep the school from closing.

Some of the old students began moving into their dorm rooms Friday in anticipation of classes beginning Monday.

They were met with a new logo and old friends, but it's a much smaller college that the one they left in may.

About 210 students are enrolled for the fall semester down from about 1,300 last year. There will be fewer classes, and some of the dorms will be empty for the time being.

“There's not as many classes, but then again, there's not as many students, so it's all going to work out,” sophomore Olivia Lombardi said. “This semester will be a little shaky because everything has to start back up again.”

Thirty-two faculty members are back on campus, including those known for their expertise in fine arts and theater arts.

The school is now operated by Laureate Education, which plans to increase enrollment every semester hoping eventually to have 800 students living on campus.