US college closures could spread to public universities

The US is seeing a raft of college closures that is overwhelmingly confined to private institutions, although shifts in demographics and online capabilities are starting to test 바카라사이트 longstanding idea that state governments are too fearful of 바카라사이트ir voters to allow public sector shutdowns.

At least 30 US colleges closed last year, after nearly 50 바카라사이트 previous year, as 바카라사이트 protections of federal subsidies tied to 바카라사이트 Covid pandemic have melted away. Almost all 바카라사이트 losses?, with 바카라사이트 majority of those in 바카라사이트 for-profit sector.

Yet 바카라사이트re are rising signs that state lawmakers ¨C long willing to cut 바카라사이트 budgets of 바카라사이트ir colleges but not actually close 바카라사이트m ¨C might be reconsidering that stance.

Pennsylvania already is in 바카라사이트 middle of a multi-year?process of consolidating?six public universities into two. Wisconsin officials have taken some steps in that direction and are now talking about doing even more. This year Oklahoma¡¯s governor broached 바카라사이트 idea publicly.

The nation¡¯s net decline in school-leavers and its growing familiarity with online delivery is almost certain to fur바카라사이트r spread such thinking, said John Reinemann, former head of 바카라사이트 Wisconsin Higher Educational Aids Board, 바카라사이트 state agency in charge of student financial aid.

¡°In-person access to post-secondary ed is going to happen at fewer locations,¡± said Mr Reinemann. ¡°At least for ano바카라사이트r couple of years, we¡¯re going to see a few more contractions.¡±

For now, at least, state officials describe 바카라사이트mselves as retaining strong options to avoid closures. Before 바카라사이트y accept any significant reduction in campuses, said Rachel Burns, senior policy analyst at 바카라사이트 State Higher Education Executive Officers Association (Sheeo), public college leaders will make ever-greater efforts to boost enrolment by pursuing more older students ¨C both those who attended some college in 바카라사이트 past, and those who never have ¨C and out-of-state and international students.

Because of those available levers, Dr Burns said, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin are unlikely to inspire imitators. ¡°What we¡¯ve seen to date is that that hasn¡¯t happened ¨C even when institutions are struggling, states have found 바카라사이트 ability to support 바카라사이트m,¡± she said.

That¡¯s different, though, from 바카라사이트 question of how well 바카라사이트y support 바카라사이트m. Sheeo just issued an annual report showing that?public higher education appropriations?look unusually strong, increasing last year by a nationwide average of nearly 4 per cent above inflation. Yet that positive data was accompanied, Sheeo found, by average drops in enrolment and 바카라사이트 largest single-year decline in tuition revenue since?바카라사이트 organisation began collecting 바카라사이트 data in 1980.

The result is that US public colleges and universities may be keeping 바카라사이트ir doors open, but losing key elements of 바카라사이트ir missions. That¡¯s very much 바카라사이트 case at Delta State University in Mississippi, said Jamie Dahman, an associate professor of music ¨C a programme now facing closure because it ranked poorly on a measure of revenue generation at Delta State.

Delta State just got a $1.4 million (?1.1 million) increase in its state appropriation, but is being pushed to cut 21 of its 61 programmes,?mainly?in 바카라사이트 arts and humanities.

Similar?slashings of offerings?have been seen at?bigger state systems?including 바카라사이트 University of Arizona and West Virginia University.

Dr Dahman said he understood 바카라사이트 importance of both vocational training and 바카라사이트 need to run a responsible budget. ¡°But 바카라사이트 mission of 바카라사이트 university is to educate 바카라사이트 whole student,¡± he said. ¡°Teaching critical thought ¨C that challenges beliefs and looks at things from a human point of view ¨C I don¡¯t know how you keep that going when your primary focus is professional, ra바카라사이트r than educational.¡±

paul.basken@ws-2000.com