Thirty years ago, some of us predicted that mutual growth mergers would become a prominent megatrend in the higher education industry. Instead, we witnessed a broad range of institutions that faced impending liquidation. Some of these fragile colleges were pressured to merge with somewhat stronger institutions which, in some cases, ironically, ended up closing after […]
The safety of students, faculty, staff and visitors is a top priority for Boston University. As a result, BU can have anywhere from 15 to 30 officers working their safety and security command center at once. When an emergency arises, Director of Emergency Management Stephen Morash must quickly determine team members can report to the […]
Beyond food pantries, higher education needs more substantial changes in the structure of food service to accommodate new student populations—many more low-income students, part-time “post-traditional” students attending in new patterns, and traditional students facing increasing financial challenges with rising costs of attendance.
Given the 16 years of continuous military activity following 9/11, it is not surprising that a large number of returning veterans are looking forward to the next step in their lives. As a nation, we should always remember their individual and collective sacrifice and courage. Increasingly, higher education is taking a larger role in providing […]
Faced once again with state and federal funding cuts, Connecticut State Colleges & Universities system President Mark Ojakian has had to make some tough decisions to keep the 17-school system functioning. His strategy of consolidation and shared services, called Students First, should save at least $41 million annually and bring much-needed fiscal discipline to a […]
The "perfect storm" of a weak economy, the expansion of for-profit schools and greater competition for fewer students has forced many colleges to become more strategic about their survival, and to avoid previously unthinkable options, including closing their doors for good. In Consolidating Colleges and Merging Universities (2017, Johns Hopkins University Press), James Martin and […]
Hispanic community leader Juan Salgado has been appointed chancellor of the City Colleges of Chicago. A recipient of a MacArthur Foundation "genius" fellowship, he leads Instituto del Progreso Latino, a nonprofit that helps low-income, Latino immigrants attain education, training and employment. In 2010, Salgado opened a health science careers charter school. The City Colleges faculty […]
The combination of the campus expansion boom of the past decade and the recent flattening of enrollment rates continues to create a significant backlog of deferred maintenance at many institutions, according to the 2016 “State of Facilities in Higher Education” report from Sightlines, an education facility assessment consultancy. And that backlog is leading to some […]
Exotic branch campuses across the globe give American institutions an extra shine when recruiting students and establishing an internationally recognized brand. Now, several universities are finding similar success with satellites in other parts of the U.S. For example: Drexel University, based in Philadelphia, operates a satellite in Sacramento, California; Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh runs […]
