“Rider University has finally revealed the potential purchaser” of Westminster Choir College, writes Krystal Knapp in Wednesday’s (2/21) Planet Princeton (New Jersey). “The company, Beijing Kaiwen Education Technology Co., Ltd., which has no experience operating an institution of higher education, will pay Rider University $40 million…. Beijing Kaiwen Education Technology owns the Kaiwen Academies, two K-12 international schools in Beijing…. Kaiwen is a publicly traded company in China. Rider plans to transfer ownership of Westminster Choir College, Westminster Conservatory of Music, and Westminster Continuing Education to the company as part of the sale…. In 2017, Rider’s Board of Trustees selected Kaiwen Education to acquire Westminster and maintain the campus in Princeton…. Kaiwen Education has hired … Catherine Jarjisian, an accreditation consultant…. Larry Livingston, currently the chair of the Department of Conducting at the University of Southern California’s Flora L. Thornton School of Music, will serve as the project manager and liaison.” Gregory Dell’Omo, president of Rider University, said, “The purchase price is indicative that the partner has the resources to invest in Westminster and is committed to its long-term viability.”
Posted February 26, 2018
