The purpose of a college education is to give students the wherewithal to thrive in the future. We know that certain skills can quickly become obsolete. We also know, as former President Bill Clinton said, “We are currently preparing students for jobs that don’t yet exist using technologies that haven’t been invented in order to […]
Pom-poms; a marching band; cheering students; a four-by-two-foot, $25 million ceremonial check—all part of college football halftime. At least they were in November when Micron Technology CEO Mark Durcan presented the check to Boise State University President Bob Kustra, other officials and several delighted students on the 50-yard line. The Micron Technology Foundation's gift, which […]
BALTIMORE COUNTY, Maryland—As a child, Freeman Hrabowski marched in Martin Luther King's peaceful civil rights protests in Birmingham, Alabama, in the mid-1960s. He wound up in jail for a week. Hundreds of miles away on the edge of the American South, the University of Maryland, Baltimore County opened its doors. It was the only campus […]
There are some 4,140 colleges and universities in America. If each spends an average of $50,000 per year in presenting speakers and lecturers–this becomes an annual investment which exceeds $200 million. In the campus public speaker marketplace, the majority of presenters receive fees and compensation of about $10,000 per engagement. Some receive $25,000+ and some […]
Part of the University of San Diego’s forward-thinking mission is to ensure that all campus facilities are capable of serving not only today’s students, but tomorrow’s students as well. Over the past two and a half years, USD leaders have applied this philosophy to redesigning the campus bookstore. “Course materials come from a wide range […]
The spaces we create for people with learning disabilities can support success or guarantee failure. Three decades ago, I led a team in designing an entire college campus specifically for students with learning disabilities. Some $40 million later, we had transformed the former Windham College into Vermont’s Landmark College. It was the first purpose-built environment […]
As colleges and universities move into 2016, campus finance leaders may wish for a crystal ball to help with preparations in the coming year. Unfortunately, a crystal ball is not in the budget. Most colleges and universities will continue to face financial hurdles, and although there is much crossover, certain issues will be more or […]
College towns across the country may be sitting on an economic and tourism marketing gold mine in the form of their local institution’s “tourist attractions.” Consider the thousands of people who go to a school’s concerts, theatrical performances, athletic events, museums, planetarium shows, camps and conferences—not to mention those visiting for homecoming, family weekends and […]
The college presidency is a high-risk occupation. The old challenges—fundraising, strategic planning, managing enrollment, protecting students—are still there, along with newer trials involving demographic shifts, flatlining family incomes, access, and compliance to growing governmental regulation. The list goes on. It's a wonder anyone wants to do it. Yet the ranks of new college presidents continue […]
Greencastle, Indiana is home to a unique blend of industrial and commercial businesses as well as a top ranking private liberal arts college – DePauw University. As a State of Indiana Stellar Community grant recipient, Greencastle‘s vision to revitalize its community and downtown area and create the next great college town was in motion. With […]
