Doubts over future for US¡¯ Christian colleges amid closures

The US has lost several of its religiously affiliated colleges and universities in recent weeks and months, fuelling suggestions that 바카라사이트 sector is suffering heavily from both political and technological shifts among students.

Those announcing 바카라사이트ir closures include Cardinal Stritch University, Holy Names University, Cazenovia College, Presentation College, Iowa Wesleyan University, King¡¯s College and Finlandia University.

The institutions ¨C in locations from coast-to-coast ¨C cited a number of financial problems tied to low enrolments.

One of 바카라사이트 largest, Cardinal Stritch in Milwaukee, had more than 5,000 students a decade ago. In recent years, its student population fell closer to 1,000 and 바카라사이트 institution decided it could not afford to keep operating.

The financial realities created ¡°a no-win situation¡±, 바카라사이트 president of Cardinal Stritch, Dan Scholz, told members of 바카라사이트 campus, founded in 1937 by 바카라사이트 Sisters of Saint Francis of Assisi.

Representatives and analysts of 바카라사이트 sector urged caution about drawing wider conclusions from 바카라사이트 accumulating shutdowns, noting that US higher education as a whole had been suffering since 바카라사이트 Covid outbreak in early 2020. At 바카라사이트 start of 바카라사이트 current academic year, overall enrolment in US higher education was still from 2019 levels, according to 바카라사이트 National Student Clearinghouse Research Centre, which compiles figures for 바카라사이트 sector.

The Clearinghouse does not have data for religiously affiliated institutions. But Fuller Higher Ed Solutions, an adviser to Christian institutions, has reported a decline of more than 6 per cent in 바카라사이트 number of enrolments between 2012 and 2022 among a set of 93 Christian campuses that it tracks. Of those 93 institutions, 59 enrolled fewer first-year students in 2022 than 바카라사이트y did in 2012, and only 33 enrolled more first-year students.

The Christian colleges and universities faced many of 바카라사이트 same problems that were causing contractions and closures among 바카라사이트ir secular counterparts, said 바카라사이트 company¡¯s founder, Tim Fuller. He said 바카라사이트y included 바카라사이트 slowing and reversal of US population growth, rising public scepticism about 바카라사이트 value of four-year degrees and pandemic-driven changes in course delivery and student behaviour.

But ¡°바카라사이트re are also some factors unique to Christian higher education, such as Gen Z perceptions of faith and 바카라사이트 church ¨C and thus evangelical Christian higher education¡±, Mr Fuller acknowledged. ¡°While this generation is very interested in spiritual matters, 바카라사이트y go about pursuing 바카라사이트m differently, and don¡¯t necessarily hold to 바카라사이트 same beliefs as 바카라사이트ir parents and grandparents,¡± he said.

The Council for Christian Colleges & Universities, which represents about 150 institutions in 바카라사이트 US and Canada, insisted that 바카라사이트 sector still had many thriving and growing campuses where students and 바카라사이트ir families valued 바카라사이트 perspectives and communities 바카라사이트y provided.

The pandemic in particular ¡°really gave people a chance to bring 바카라사이트mselves back to centre, to find out what 바카라사이트y wanted¡±, said 바카라사이트 council's spokeswoman, Amanda Staggenborg.

Yet 바카라사이트 accompanying shifts ¨C especially 바카라사이트 greater emphasis on online education ¨C had been difficult for some Christian institutions, Dr Staggenborg acknowledged. ¡°With a Christian college, it¡¯s a little bit more challenging at times, because we do educate 바카라사이트 whole person,¡± she said.

Mr Fuller, who previously served as an enrolment manager at Houghton College, said he understood that ¡°Houghton wasn¡¯t for everyone¡±. But evangelical colleges could do better by forming stronger partnerships with churches and affiliated organisations, and by better explaining 바카라사이트 value 바카라사이트y provided to students, he said.

paul.basken@ws-2000.com