Search Results for: merger

How to merge a college with a university

Posted on July 26, 2019 by Bryan Alexander

Two more American campuses announced a merger.  Marlboro College in Vermont will merge with the University of Bridgeport in Connecticut. For years I’ve been tracking ideas and practices around academic mergers, closures, cuts, and queen sacrifices, as responses to the growing … Continue reading →

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College and university financial health: one important view

Posted on July 16, 2019 by Bryan Alexander

Inside Higher Ed does many fine things for the post-secondary world.  One of them is conducting repeated, careful surveys of key campus players. This week they released a survey of chief financial and business officers, a crucial constituency with vital … Continue reading →

Posted in economics, research topics | Leave a comment

21st century American religion: decreasing church membership, rising generational divides

Posted on June 21, 2019 by Bryan Alexander

How will religion change in the 21st century? A recent Gallup poll of American religious practice gives us a fascinating glimpse into future trends, both for society as a whole and education in particular. The keep point in their report: … Continue reading →

Posted in trends | 4 Comments

Humanity’s next century: an Empty Planet for education?

Posted on June 5, 2019 by Bryan Alexander

Where is the human race headed for the next few generations?  What is in store for higher ed if the population bomb turns out to be a dud? Demographics, demographics, demographics: my audiences know I harp on this topic as … Continue reading →

Posted in demographics, reviews | 6 Comments

American college and university enrollment declines again – for the 8th year in a row

Posted on June 2, 2019 by Bryan Alexander

The total number of students enrolled in American higher education declined this spring, according to new NSCRC data.  For the eighth year in a row. This is vital data for the nation’s education sector. Let’s break down the details. Here’s the … Continue reading →

Posted in enrollment | 4 Comments

Notes on the US News & World Report higher education apocalypse

Posted on March 25, 2019 by Bryan Alexander

This week US News & World Report – home of the leading American college and university rankings scheme – published a column arguing that higher education is entering the end times. I’m not being hyperbolic.  The published title echoes author … Continue reading →

Posted in future of education | 5 Comments

An academic accreditor looks at higher ed’s horizon

Posted on March 9, 2019 by Bryan Alexander

I think what’s happening right now in Vermont is a crisis in higher education.  There’s no doubt about it… I’m just back from a week in Australia.  It was a very productive time, and also delightful as Oz always is.  The … Continue reading →

Posted in horizon scanning | Tagged | 4 Comments

Another small American college will close

Posted on March 4, 2019 by Bryan Alexander

My most recent blog post had the grim title of “casualties of the future.”  I wrote about how American higher ed is experiencing problems and losses as it seeks to change from one historical stage to another. And now there’s … Continue reading →

Posted in enrollment | 12 Comments

Casualties of the future: college closures and queen sacrifices

Posted on February 26, 2019 by Bryan Alexander

For years I’ve been thinking about ways of explaining higher education’s present and future.  My peak higher education model is out there, for example, notorious and grim. Beyond that, I wonder if we should think of our time as a … Continue reading →

Posted in horizon scanning | Tagged | 18 Comments

Are mega-universities the future?

Posted on February 23, 2019 by Bryan Alexander

How big will campuses get? A recent Chronicle of Higher Education article argues that what it calls mega-universities are a trend to watch. Lee Gardner defines such academic behemoths in terms of size.  He cites enrollment numbers upwards of 80,000.  Western … Continue reading →

Posted in future of education | 10 Comments