Ursuline College has announced that it will partner with another Catholic institution of higher learning -- Gannon University of Erie, Pa.

Gannon University in Erie and Ursuline College near Cleveland intend to merge, creating what leaders say would be the largest Catholic university system in the Lake Erie region. Presidents of both institutions outlined the move to their campuses Monday.

The announcement was made by the presidents of both schools at Ursuline College in Pepper Pike, Ohio, on Monday.

During the next two months, both schools will gather information that could lead to a definitive agreement, but it would be subject to several regulatory and accreditor approvals.

Ursuline College in Pepper Pike and Gannon University in Erie, Pa., announced on Sept. 16 they had signed a letter of intent to enter a strategic partnership.

On Monday, Sept. 16, Gannon and Ursuline College announced they had signed a letter of intent (LOI) to enter into a “strategic partnership,” one that will create what the two universities say will be the largest Catholic university system in the region and “differentiate us from our competitors."

The presidents of Gannon University and Ursuline College have signed a letter of intent to enter a strategic partnership.

In recent years college enrollment has been on the decline, but Gannon University has a plan to expand its reach. On Monday, the Catholic university announced a letter of intent to partner with Ursuline College just outside Cleveland.