It's a question we hear frequently. As hard as they’ve tried, new student numbers steadily decline while tuition discounting eclipses price increases. Budgeting is an annual ritual of optimistic projections in the spring followed by reactive cost cuts the following fall. Student to faculty ratios decline. Maintenance is deferred. There is a pall over the campus. I […]

“It doesn’t mean a thing, but even so, after twenty-five years; it’s nice to know.” The words from the song, “Do you Love Me?” are sung by Tevye and his dear wife Golda in “Fiddler on the Roof” as they grapple with yet another generation of would-be husbands and wives, each testing tradition in uncomfortable […]

The headlines tell the tale of another university that is dealing with hard times.  This time, it's a public here in Ohio. https://www.ohio.com/article/20150710/NEWS/307109063 As many of you know, my firm, CFO Colleague, consults with a variety of higher education institutions, with one of the larger projects being turnarounds.  We are in the midst of turnaround number […]

The first week of August is upon us and whatever will betide the fall is becoming more clear. What are some of my clients doing around this time? Well, first of all, the deadline for finalizing payment for the fall often occurs this week. I have suggested a deadline of August 5th through 9th as […]

For many of us in the higher education world, returning from the Christmas break is not always welcomed.  For residential campuses, the second semester is typically less populated than the first.  If the change is too large, the financial plan can be in trouble.  Then, there is the influence on next year’s budget, brought on […]