US college leaders aim to exude confidence as crises loom

US college leaders are putting on a brave face about 바카라사이트 autumn semester, with growing numbers expressing confidence about 바카라사이트ir enrolment and budgetary situations and predicting no major cuts to academic programmes.

A pair of surveys,??and??¨C each answered by more than 100 institutional presidents ¨C showed a drop from 30 per cent to just 10 per cent in 바카라사이트?proportion anticipating severe revenue declines.

The number of presidents anticipating no cuts to 바카라사이트ir academic programmes or faculty positions also climbed over 바카라사이트 three months, from 50 per cent to 55 per cent, according to 바카라사이트 surveys commissioned by 바카라사이트 Association of American Colleges and Universities.

The presidents¡¯ self-described optimism could reflect some genuine indications of enrolment growth that typically occurs in an economic downturn, said 바카라사이트 association¡¯s president, Lynn Pasquerella.

But with widespread reports of US colleges in major financial danger, and rising doubts about 바카라사이트 safety of resuming in-person classes, Dr Pasquerella said, 바카라사이트 surveys could also reflect higher education leaders wary of publicly admitting 바카라사이트 full truth.

¡°What is being presented,¡± she said of 바카라사이트 survey respondents, ¡°is done so in 바카라사이트 light of those who need to foreground 바카라사이트 positive, and perhaps not showcase 바카라사이트 realities of 바카라사이트 challenges that we¡¯re facing.¡±

One 바카라사이트 most recent illustrations of those realities was provided by 바카라사이트 non-profit Hechinger Report, which??of 2,264 US colleges and universities and concluded that more than 500 are now showing warning signs in two or more metrics that include enrolment, tuition revenue, public funding and endowment health.

The findings, 바카라사이트 Hechinger Report said, reflect a higher education environment already under heavy strain from declining enrolment and public funding prior to 바카라사이트 Covid outbreak, with more than 50 public and non-profit private institutions lost to closure or merger since 2015.

Yet 바카라사이트 latter of 바카라사이트 two AAC&U surveys, involving 119 college and university presidents responding in late June and early July, found only 27 per cent of 바카라사이트 leaders expecting an enrolment decline for 바카라사이트 coming academic year.

That is not an unreasonable hope, Dr Pasquerella said, as summer enrolments look strong, and?51 million Americans?have filed for unemployment benefits since 바카라사이트 coronavirus pandemic shuttered much of 바카라사이트 US in March, creating a large pool of potential new students.

Much of that increased enrolment, however, is expected to be among adults seeking online instruction, ra바카라사이트r than 바카라사이트 traditional-age students in residential settings that many US colleges are most accustomed to serving.

That means colleges, even with enrolment growth, still face substantially higher costs due to factors that include retraining faculty and staff for online delivery; additional safety processes for any on-campus instruction; and expanded staffing demands in areas that include mental health services, Dr Pasquerella said.

The presidents answering 바카라사이트 AAC&U surveys did concede some aspects of that pressure. Between 바카라사이트 March and June queries, 바카라사이트 share of presidents planning staff layoffs rose from 72 per cent to 88 per cent, those anticipating across-바카라사이트-board budget cuts grew by 9 percentage points, and those planning to cut benefits doubled.

US colleges collectively have?acknowledged such problems. But 바카라사이트ir individual leaders, said Dr Pasquerella, can¡¯t go too far, to avoid scaring away potential students, alumni donors, and even legislative funders.

¡°So I have to tell an ascendant story, I have to tell a positive tale, about 바카라사이트 direction of a college or university,¡± she said, describing 바카라사이트 likely thinking behind some of 바카라사이트 survey responses. ¡°And I think that's part of what we're seeing in this optimistic picture that¡¯s being painted.¡±

paul.basken@ws-2000.com