Yale-NUS alumni, students aim to ensure school's legacy endures

Art exhibition, book among ways they are honouring school before its closure

- Gabrielle Chan

After the final batch of 257 students at Yale-NUS College graduate in June 2025, the liberal arts college will close its doors for good.

The campus has become much quieter, said final-year student Kimberly Quek, 25. But this also meant she got to know her peers much better, in a smaller and close-knit community.

"While the closure is undeniably unfortunate, I remain deeply grateful for the invaluable experiences and unwavering support I received during my time there," she said.

The campus was also "noticeably less vibrant" compared with final-year student Ashvine Pandian's first few years in the school.

Mr Ashvine, 24, who is majoring in philosophy, politics and economics at Yale-NUS, said this is because of the smaller student body, and also as students prepare to graduate while grappling with the looming closure of the school.

This quieter atmosphere on campus reflects a broader sentiment among students and alumni that The Straits Times spoke to - one of resignation and acceptance.

While many wish the circumstances were different, they want to preserve the college's identity and ensure that its legacy endures.

An art exhibition, a performance and a book - these are some ways through which they are honouring the school before it shuts down.

More than 1,500 alumni and 90 faculty members will bid it farewell, marking the end of Yale University's tie-up with National University of Singapore (NUS), which started in 2011.

Yale-NUS president Joanne Roberts said there is still some sadness about the closure.

"I do think that the community wishes that there had been an opportunity for them to give their inputs before the decision was made, and that I can understand."

But the sentiment has also changed over time. "I think now, many people feel the way I do, which is grateful," she said in an interview with ST on March 14.