Tom Fitzgerald, CEO, E&I Cooperative Services There's no denying it: today's higher ed administrators are facing enormous financial challenges. As tuitions have steadily increased, revenue from the state and federal government has continued to drop. Student loan debt has reached epic proportions, eclipsing the $1 trillion mark in 2011. According to the Princeton Review, college […]
Higher ed's reliance on adjunct faculty, hardly a secret anymore, has gotten much scrutiny in the past few years. Institutions of all types benefit from the fact that adjuncts—provided they don't become eligible for health benefits by working more than 30 hours a week—can be employed for a fraction of the investment needed for full-time […]
When you think "rebranding campaign," it most likely conjures up images of marketing and communications officers meeting with the school president and board of trustees to toil over logo colors, mascots and slogans. In reality, it's a much more complex process, involving the entire school community. And its impact can be felt across all institutional […]
The contemporary campus recreation center has graduated from yesterday's dingy weight room. In fact, at many institutions, the rec center serves as a multipurpose space, hosting celebrations on special occasions and promoting student wellness in body and mind throughout the semester. The demand for an individualized experience continues to guide design. Students want the equipment […]
There are few economic challenges that move the dial in America quite like the skyrocketing costs of higher ed. From early morning pundits to late night talk shows the student and family debt burden issue is clear and ever present. In the view of U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren – "Rising student-loan debt is an economic […]
What are the main concerns students and the community have concerning the affordability of higher education? There are two major concerns that seem to be the most popular worries of students and the general public. The rising cost of tuition: Tuition prices have been increasing at a rate over the past years that far outpaces […]
In 2008, former Yale professor William Deresiewicz wrote a scathing essay titled "The Disadvantages of an Elite Education." It quickly went viral, gaining more than 100,000 views in a matter of weeks (and many times that since). "The system manufactures students who are smart and talented and driven," he noted, "but also anxious, timid and […]
In an era where many campus security efforts are being amplified, some schools are relaxing certain policies around prospective students' criminal backgrounds. In New York, Dowling College, St. John's University and Five Towns College have either changed or completely eliminated questions pertaining to applicants' criminal histories, according to a recent New York Times article and […]
What are the biggest challenges facing higher education as a business? There are a few challenges that institutions face today. For such a long time, many were in a continuous growth pattern, developing new programs and online programs for receptive audiences. That certainly is not the case today. Many institutions are experiencing flat enrollment and […]
Managing course scheduling involves more than just cracking a complex logistical code each semester. It's also a potential bane or boon to the operating budget. Course scheduling is tied integrally to two of an institution's most expensive resources—facilities and faculty. An
