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JP O'Hare, a state Education Department spokesperson, told ÈËÊÞÐÔ½» that Wells College notified the department of its closure over the weekend. While that fulfills the first step of a process outlined by the state Education Department, it also shows how quickly the college reached the decision to cease operations after 156 years. 

Citing a lack of revenue, Wells College officials announced the closure on Monday — the beginning of the final week of classes at the small liberal arts institution. The sudden development has angered students, many of whom need to find a new school to continue their studies. Alumni and community leaders were stunned by the news. Nearly 200 employees will lose their jobs. 

According to students who attended a meeting with Wells College President Jonathan Gibralter and members of the college's board of trustees, the decision to close was made Thursday, April 25 — less than a month before commencement. 

The state Education Department has established a closure protocol for colleges and universities. According to those guidelines, there are several steps for schools to complete, including notifying the deputy commissioner for higher education in writing and copying the director of the Office of College and University Evaluation. 

Following notification, the institutions must provide information about the staff who will oversee the closure, have a written plan for an "orderly closure" and discuss pathways for enrolled students to complete their degrees. 

Although there are unanswered questions about Wells' closure, including what will happen with the campus and other property in Aurora, the college has announced "teach-out" agreements with Manhattanville University and other institutions, including Le Moyne College in the Syracuse area. These partnerships will allow students to transfer to those schools and continue their education. 

The state Education Department has a with information about college closures — Wells was added this week — that includes details about the teach-out agreements and how students can obtain their transcripts. 

"NYSED takes proactive steps to assist colleges and students during college closure transitions and stands ready to work closely with the college in order to minimize the impact on students and identify pathways for graduation in the event of a closure," O'Hare said.