Each week I wade through dozens and dozens of higher ed stories from either referrals from others or my own Google Alert searches. The stories and commentary that make it onto the podcast are my best judgement of what my growing audience wants to hear.

For example, there was an Ohio private college president that posted this week that “ Just as culture eats strategy for breakfast, backbone beats brand”. Now, I don’t know what that means. He was trying to create a perception that his college was doing well. After a review of the 4ygr and some financial indicators. I passed on this story. Not that it shouldn’t be told, but there are other similar stories I can use. BTW, this Ohio private has been increasing its endowment draw above the 4-5% target and has a 15% negative net income margin from 2016 -2024. This college is not going to close, but they are prototypical of colleges engaging in chronic lack of transparency. Almost an industry-wide genetic predisposition to spin half-stories.

But that is why I am here. I am fully transparent. I am your higher education quality control resource. Colleges spin. I reverse the spin and get the true story out.

This week:

+ I continue to see an increasing number of layoffs and cutbacks. I will have details. Harvard is among those on my list this week.

+ Private Colleges Are Pitching Free Tuition for Middle-Class Students. Will It Make a Difference?

+ 2 N.J. universities just took a huge step toward a mega-merger

+ Ending Surprise Bills in Higher Education

+ Requiem For A College: At Forbes review Jon Nichols.

Show notes and links

WWU enrollment drops, with smallest first-year class since 2020

Harvard’s School of Engineering and Applied Sciences Lays Off 25% of HUCTW Staff

NKU to eliminate some positions to address budget shortfall

CMU lays off 75 staffers in Software Engineering Institute, citing federal funding changes

Private Colleges Are Pitching Free Tuition for Middle-Class Students. Will It Make a Difference?

What happens to college towns after peak 18-year-old?

2 N.J. universities just took a huge step toward a mega-merger

Ending Surprise Bills in Higher Education

Requiem For A College: A Heartbreaking Tale, A Crucial Conversation