This Week In College Viability (TWICV)

Jonathan Nichols self-published the first edition of Requiem for a College in 2022. Here is the Amazon description of the book from 2022. On February 3rd, 2017, Saint Joseph’s College, a small college in Rensselaer, Indiana, announced it would “suspend operations,” effectively ending an over 100 year history as a four-year college. While most of the world may not have taken notice, the day left a...

Here are the big headlines for This Week in College Viability. + Free-Falls: Stocks and Colleges + Do strategic alliances yield significant financial results? + 2 colleges cut ALL NCAA sports programs + ‘Requiem for a College’ 2nd edition is out in 2025 + Lower stock market returns to impact college endowments. For private demos of the College Viability App, the College Majors Completion App or th...

I saw the value of the college experience up close this past weekend.  I attended a fundraising benefit for a local private college.   20 college athletes.  (still student-athletes – although I may change my mind on that)  They put on their best clothes, were introduced to the 800 people in attendance, ate a really nice chef-prepared meal, and helped excite the crowd during the live auction. They...

Best wishes to all of my Irish friends on this St. Patrick’s day 2025.  I looks like the jacket I am wearing is green.  So, I should be good to go. An ugly weather weekend in the eastern half of the country.  It looks like a tornado might have hit within a mile of our St. Louis suburban home Friday night. An economic tornado continues in Higher Education.  Here are today’s news and commentary stor...

The lead this week is how do college athletics tie into Higher Education finances?   Other news and commentary stories on:  + University of Dayton cutting 65 faculty and staff positions. + An interesting public college merger in New Jersey + St. Augustine’s (NC) on its last appeal to maintain accreditation. + A PA politician wants to make it harder to close public colleges.    Show Notes / Links U...

Listen to the fascinating history behind the development of Dr. Matt Hendrick's Perspective Data Science (PDS) and its two major higher education financial comparison and analysis products. It started with announced program cutbacks at the University of Tulsa in 2018.  It has evolved into a technology-based marvel that captures, analyzes and displays some 1 million data points for about 1,300 priv...

Springtime is close.  Spring training is underway in Florida and Arizona. Let’s do our own spring training and look at these stories. + 2 public colleges TSU and Penn State are in the college cutback news.  TSU with staffing cuts, and Penn State will soon be looking at closing some regional public colleges. + Middle States hosted a webinar:  How to close a college.  I will look at the possible mot...

It is universally acknowledged that higher education is faced with a multitude of challenges.  The working relationships between college faculty and their president is certainly high on the list of those challenges. The two authors of ' No Confidence - When College Faculty Turn Against Their Presidents' , Chuck Ambrose and Mike Nietzel were gracious enough to join me for a special edition of 'This...

In this episode of College Viability News, I discuss the growing concerns among college faculty regarding financial health and enrollment trends. I also share concerns about the financial struggles of another high-quality college, Franklin and Marshall College, the challenges faced by Wells College in selling its campus, and the financial distress designation (and the attempts to play hide and see...

The second Trump administration has given Higher Education a lot more than finances to worry about in the past few weeks.  But, have no fear, I will continue to stay focused on the financial health and viability of public and private colleges. As I have shared regularly, the market always adjusts.  This market adjustment is being driven by government decisions and it will continue to do so as the...

From the Amazon book description: Bankrupt U – Students, Parents and Alumni Are Going Broke, & Colleges Don’t Give a C.R.A.P . is the ultimate insiders’ guide to college. The authors, both college professors,DO give a C.R.A.P. They want students to get the most from their college experience while paying the least amount possible. They also share crucial information on making money - something...

I had my annual summit with a good Higher Education friend last week.  He was one of my first virtual-only connections and always brings valuable perspective for me.   He talked about restaurants.  Over the course of time, many restaurants open and a certain percentage of them will close for a variety of reasons. Bad food, bad location, bad pricing, high costs, poor financial management – and the...

Here are the lead news and commentary stories for January 27th + Big cuts at Sonoma State - including all athletics + Which media outlet might also be a college PR firm? + The ‘Dead Horse Theory’ applied to colleges + Media ‘regurgitation reporting’ runs amuck. Show notes and links: Commonwealth University to Close Clearfield Campus ‘Shock and grief’: Sonoma State University makes deep cuts to sta...

.  I want to start off today’s podcast with a story about 2 college professors I met.  I had the chance to meet and talk with these two kindred souls last week.  These two released a book on Amazon in December.   The title:  B ankrupt U .   The authors:  college professors: Bill Quain and Joe Corabi. These two experienced and entertaining professors and authors take on colleges and college faculty...

This Week in College Viability headlines for January 13, 2025 + Bacone College Accreditation Withdrawn – College Drivel for Bacone’s response + Guilford College risks losing accreditation, probation extended through 2025. Board pres is leading the college’s efforts.   + Of course, the new ‘College Drivel’ section is on for today. + Which Colleges Always Lose Money? + Why You Should Check Your Coll...

Summary In this episode of 'This Week in College Viability,' Gary Stocker discusses the current challenges facing higher education, including leadership changes at Guilford College, the merger of Gannon and Ursuline, and the implications of declining enrollment numbers. He emphasizes the need for financial transparency in colleges and explores the potential for class action suits to hold education...

The Kind Leadership Guild is a community for educational leaders striving to become more effective and humane with themselves, their team, and the people they serve, including a vibrant Facebook community, regular free zoom workshops, group coaching with fellow leaders, and more. Join me as Sarah Clark discusses higher education job loss, accreditation processes, and her Kind Leadership Guild.

This is the final show for 2024.  I will be away with family next Monday. Here is some of what I have for this week's podcasts. + College viability is an alternative media source for higher education. + The College of St. Rose sells everything and still can't pay off creditors. + Spin. Spin. Spin at University of Arkansas Little Rock. + Too many colleges?  A Middle States commissioner says: "No"....

I have a big announcement to start off today’s show. After reading, listening and watching the traditional higher education media, I have realized that is not me.  I don’t do cookbook stories on how to fix higher education on the margins.  I don’t engage in trite college stories about ‘awesome’ or ‘excited’ events or personalities. It is time for me to step forward and share that I am your Self-ap...

This week's episode has some action in layoffs and cutbacks.  I thought we had an imminent closure, but Keystone College is still trying to ride out a nearly impossible financial situation with appeals of their accreditation removal.  Poor students. +  I have never used ‘fake news’ in this podcast before, but I have a story about college completion rates trending up that fits that categorization....

News and commentary stories this week:  + Webster University’s financial distress from HLC .  More of those designations coming? + Keystone college could lose their accreditation later this month. + Central State (OH)  makes major changes +  T he Bell Tolls from Richard K. Vedder  James G Martin Center for Academic Renewal.  I will focus on graduation rates and poor financial health.

There is much higher education news this 2024 Thanksgiving week. Headlines + Some layoffs and cutbacks this week + 2 stories that suggest college leaders may be moving more aggressively in their relationships with faculty + Anderson U Fitch rating heads south. + More ugly spin on a college with an unsustainable financial pattern + St. Augustine U sells off the farm to stay afloat Show Notes and li...

It is the week before Thanksgiving and my prediction of the college closure rate picking up steam has not yet developed.  I still believe that there are scores of colleges out there without the resources to be viable.  My concern is now moving toward how many of these will wait too long and must announce their closure with very short notice to students, faculty, staff, and communities. Time will t...

The Red Guy won and the Blue lady lost.   I am guessing most of us have read and listened to countless stories about the outcome and potential future impact of last Tuesday’s national election. Here is a 'This Week' prediction for you.  “It’s impact on HE was going to be materially insignificant no matter whether red or blue one.” + I also look at both student reporters and the college leaders the...

AI-generated takeaways More students are choosing not to pursue college education. Free tuition initiatives can lead to negative consequences for faculty and staff. Enrollment declines have long-term financial impacts on institutions. HBCUs are facing significant challenges with graduation rates. Graduation rates are often overlooked in favor of enrollment numbers. Choosing a college requires care...