I could not agree more with @mj08 , as there was a near abandonment of its traditional LCMS constituency. Although the total number of Lutheran students and the college-age population in the Midwest is in the beginning of the well-documented enrollment cliff, as has been pointed out before, those students and families are voting with their feet and going elsewhere - whether that is one of the Concordias, Hillsdale, IU or Purdue. I also wonder if VU's abandonment of its traditional base has had a negative impact on donations from the families that used to have substantial ties to VU.
The Jesuit catholic model is a good aspirational goal, as schools like Marquette, Georgetown, Loyola Chicago, Xavier, St. Louis and Creighton would be great academic peers. However, their endowments are $916M, $3.3B, $1.15B, $250M, $1.71B and $745M respectively - only Xavier has an endowment lower than Valpo's $315M (all values from 2023). St. Thomas would also be a great academic peer, yet has an endowment of $874M. The point is that these aspirational peers offer an excellent education, yet have larger endowments and stronger regular giving than VU. It is difficult to offer that level of educational experience without the resources to do so.
Another major point of emphasis with St Thomas is that they exist on a higher ed island. Within the state of Minnesota, and even the greater Minneapolis/St Paul area, the only school they are in direct competition with is 2 miles down the road. The same could be said about our, former, peer institution of Gonzaga. The only school they compete with in the Spokane area is Eastern Washington. Even then, Cheyenne is still a good bit away from Spokane. When you live on an island of higher ed. You are naturally going to find it easier to maintain supporters and a lucrative donor pool. This is not to discount the many blunders by VU, but in the Chicagoland area and NWI. There are various institutions in direct competition with VU for a piece of the pie. The state schools, ND, and even conference rivals such as UIC are all within striking distance. In fact St Thomas ranks lower than VU in various US news categories, including Best Value School. The one rank of note where they do rank higher, is the dreaded national ranking.
I do agree that the Jesuit model is probably the most effective goal to get to, but there needs to be an increase in alumni/donor relations to garner support from the people with willing wallets. I hope the tour will prove to be a great tool for this. To add onto what LB62 mentioned. Programs like those are great. Bachelors in 3 programs and masters in 5 programs are great tools to lure in prospective students. Partially why I chose to attend the school formerly known as IUPUI is for their masters in 5 program for Computer Science.
The Jesuit catholic model is a good aspirational goal, as schools like Marquette, Georgetown, Loyola Chicago, Xavier, St. Louis and Creighton would be great academic peers. However, their endowments are $916M, $3.3B, $1.15B, $250M, $1.71B and $745M respectively - only Xavier has an endowment lower than Valpo's $315M (all values from 2023). St. Thomas would also be a great academic peer, yet has an endowment of $874M. The point is that these aspirational peers offer an excellent education, yet have larger endowments and stronger regular giving than VU. It is difficult to offer that level of educational experience without the resources to do so.
The other difference from Valpo and these potential peers in the Jesuit model is location, location, location. All of the ones mentioned are essentially urban institutions and with the exception of Loyola (they share Chicago with DePaul) are the biggest catholic/privates in town and the surrounding area. Rez also mentions Gonzaga, which also enjoys the all-important strategic island location benefit.
Yeah, I agree, these wealthier Jesuit institutions generally have significant endowments and location benefits that Valpo can't draw upon.
Or, where the urban location isn't as much of a draw, even some of these universities are struggling compared to other Jesuit universities. For instance, the Jesuit universities SLU (St. Louis) and Marquette (Milwaukee) are certainly better off than Valpo financially, but they don't enjoy the sort of enrollment demand and financial security that a Georgetown (DC) or a BC (Boston) does.
Last year, Marquette was in the news for its own budget problems, though maybe not as severe as Valpo's: https://www.wpr.org/news/marquette-university-announces-impending-cuts-after-budget-shortfall
Just yesterday, SLU was in the news for making some pre-emptive budgetary cuts and staff layoffs (though not current faculty). It seems more like a preventative care cautionary budget-cutting than outright desperation (or at least that's how the article presents it) but still: https://www.highereddive.com/news/saint-louis-university-lays-off-23-staffers-eliminates-130-positions/730490/
Both Milwaukee and St. Louis have had their struggles as cities.
Several elite universities have embraced online education, offering degrees that generate substantial revenue through their programs:
1. Harvard University: Harvard’s Extension School offers several online undergraduate and graduate degrees, allowing students to complete the majority of their coursework remotely. These programs, while more affordable than traditional Harvard degrees, attract a large global student body, generating significant revenue for the university.
2. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT): While MIT doesn’t offer fully online degrees, its micro-masters programs, available through platforms like edX, provide an accessible and affordable pathway toward advanced education. These programs attract thousands of students, earning the university millions. Though a full degree requires in-person components, the micro-masters alone have been highly profitable.
3. Stanford University: Stanford offers several fully online graduate degrees, particularly in fields like computer science and engineering. These programs are popular among working professionals and generate considerable revenue. Stanford’s strong brand and academic reputation make its online offerings lucrative despite the higher price points.
4. University of Pennsylvania (Penn): Penn’s School of Arts and Sciences and Penn Engineering Online offer fully online master’s degrees in areas like computer science. These programs, along with executive education from the Wharton School, draw in large numbers of students willing to pay premium prices for a Penn degree, making them a major source of revenue.
5. Columbia University: Columbia’s School of Professional Studies offers fully online master’s degrees in fields such as sustainability management and negotiation and conflict resolution. These programs are in high demand from professionals seeking flexibility, driving substantial income for the university.
None of these have a cheesy smell.
Valpo already offers online masters programs. Personally I feel as if these offerings should be expanded upon for the reasons Joker outlines
PAYWALL ON THE ARTICLE 😠. Pal, please paste in the text.
Was able to snake by the article and get to the meat
Valparaiso University
No Confidence in President José D. Padilla
October 23, 2024
Valparaiso University has a long history of educating students to lead and serve in their
communities. Faculty members believe in the mission of this institution and its ability to
empower students to achieve their goals and make a positive difference in society. Therefore, the
faculty are compelled to present the following resolution.
Whereas, President José D. Padilla has not fulfilled one of his primary responsibilities of raising
significant funds for Valparaiso University in his nearly four year tenure;
Whereas, President José D. Padilla has not fulfilled one of his primary responsibilities of
improving enrollments at the University, and has been ineffective in stemming the decline of
enrollments and retention;
Whereas, President José D. Padilla’s approach to rectifying our financial deficits has driven our
budget increasingly away from our core mission of educating students, reducing the percentage
spent on academics to 38%, increasingly below our peers;
Whereas, President José D. Padilla has not demonstrated the ability to recruit and effectively
lead senior administrators, as evidenced by, among other issues, significant turnover in key
leadership positions;
Whereas, President José D. Padilla’s leadership, both in style and substance, has fostered
discontent and a deep sense of insecurity amongst the constituents of the University;
Whereas, President José D. Padilla, from the earliest days of his tenure, has taken a contentious
approach with the faculty, staff, and the broader community, eroding the University’s reputation
and fundamental mission, including “values of mutual respect, positive regard,…and reliance on
grace;”
The Faculty Senate resolves that it has no confidence in President José D. Padilla to lead
Valparaiso University
Holy crap ‼️
Enrollment decline. Scandals within the athletic department. AD Small suddenly departs under a cloud. An art sale fiasco divides the university community. Now this.
What the heck else is coming down the friggin pike?
Several elite universities have embraced online education, offering degrees that generate substantial revenue through their programs:
1. Harvard University: Harvard’s Extension School offers several online undergraduate and graduate degrees, allowing students to complete the majority of their coursework remotely. These programs, while more affordable than traditional Harvard degrees, attract a large global student body, generating significant revenue for the university.
2. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT): While MIT doesn’t offer fully online degrees, its micro-masters programs, available through platforms like edX, provide an accessible and affordable pathway toward advanced education. These programs attract thousands of students, earning the university millions. Though a full degree requires in-person components, the micro-masters alone have been highly profitable.
3. Stanford University: Stanford offers several fully online graduate degrees, particularly in fields like computer science and engineering. These programs are popular among working professionals and generate considerable revenue. Stanford’s strong brand and academic reputation make its online offerings lucrative despite the higher price points.
4. University of Pennsylvania (Penn): Penn’s School of Arts and Sciences and Penn Engineering Online offer fully online master’s degrees in areas like computer science. These programs, along with executive education from the Wharton School, draw in large numbers of students willing to pay premium prices for a Penn degree, making them a major source of revenue.
5. Columbia University: Columbia’s School of Professional Studies offers fully online master’s degrees in fields such as sustainability management and negotiation and conflict resolution. These programs are in high demand from professionals seeking flexibility, driving substantial income for the university.
None of these have a cheesy smell.
Joker, I'm very familiar with the extensive continuing education offerings provided by many of the prestigious universities. In fact, I recently graduated from the University of Chicago's online continuing education program in the Great Books of the Western World. The University of Chicago, through its Graham School of Continuing Liberal and Professional Studies, has pioneered continuing and adult education offerings from its very founding.
I think you fundamentally misunderstood the point I was making and the types of institutions to which I referred. I am not against online learning; indeed, I am a qualified supporter of it. But what I do find less-than-wonderful are the cookie cutter, master's-in-a-box online degree offerings that are being rolled out by many universities, not as distinctive adult/continuing education offerings, but rather as undistinguished revenue generators. They are typically taught by poorly paid part-time faculty, are frequently offered in asynchronous class sessions, and have little to no connection to the heart of the university's mission or its full-time faculty.
They are, essentially, online, conveyer-belt degree programs that help to sustain the rest of the university.
Valpo already offers online masters programs. Personally I feel as if these offerings should be expanded upon for the reasons Joker outlines
The higher ed marketplace has become flooded with ho hum online masters degree programs offered by mid-range private universities and state universities in search of easy money. If I had a dollar for every strategic plan that included expansion of online masters degree offerings pushed by administrators engaging in magical thinking about revenue generation, I'd at least have enough money to buy a round-trip plane ticket to somewhere nice.
Was able to snake by the article and get to the meat
Valparaiso University
No Confidence in President José D. Padilla
October 23, 2024
Valparaiso University has a long history of educating students to lead and serve in their
communities. Faculty members believe in the mission of this institution and its ability to
empower students to achieve their goals and make a positive difference in society. Therefore, the
faculty are compelled to present the following resolution.
Whereas, President José D. Padilla has not fulfilled one of his primary responsibilities of raising
significant funds for Valparaiso University in his nearly four year tenure;
Whereas, President José D. Padilla has not fulfilled one of his primary responsibilities of
improving enrollments at the University, and has been ineffective in stemming the decline of
enrollments and retention;
Whereas, President José D. Padilla’s approach to rectifying our financial deficits has driven our
budget increasingly away from our core mission of educating students, reducing the percentage
spent on academics to 38%, increasingly below our peers;
Whereas, President José D. Padilla has not demonstrated the ability to recruit and effectively
lead senior administrators, as evidenced by, among other issues, significant turnover in key
leadership positions;
Whereas, President José D. Padilla’s leadership, both in style and substance, has fostered
discontent and a deep sense of insecurity amongst the constituents of the University;
Whereas, President José D. Padilla, from the earliest days of his tenure, has taken a contentious
approach with the faculty, staff, and the broader community, eroding the University’s reputation
and fundamental mission, including “values of mutual respect, positive regard,…and reliance on
grace;”
The Faculty Senate resolves that it has no confidence in President José D. Padilla to lead
Valparaiso University
It's a Faculty Senate vote of No Confidence, not a full faculty vote of NC. There's a difference, perhaps a big one depending on how the Senate is perceived by the Board and the University community in general, in terms of optics and impact.
Don't get me wrong, this isn't exactly a good thing for Padilla. But these days, with our politicized and contentious academic work environments, even a strong NC vote by a full faculty doesn't have the same clout that it once had. And in highly contentious university cultures, an NC vote might caused a Board to double down on defending a President.
It is strategically smart that the Senate began its resolution by addressing fundraising prowess. That may speak to Board members more loudly than the other grievances raised.
@david81 They are offered because they are easy for a working individual to obtain. Office Andy can easily work while getting his masters for a pay raise at an affordable price. However I don't think it would be as effective for VU, but just the other day someone on reddit was asking if VU did night classes or online degrees for these reasons.
