TWICV News and Commentary for December 1, 2025

This is the podcast that talks about the financial health and viability of public and private colleges with data, details and perspectives offered nowhere else.

 + Rider President Says the University Will Survive (That’s a tough sell when I look at the data.)

+ A study of 44 private colleges in the northeast by Michael Horn and Steven Shulman.   More data to support my premise that higher education will continue to move through its consolidation era: closures today.  Mergers tomorrow.

+ Daniel Greenstein:  How Selectivity Shapes Financial Resilience in Private Higher Education

+NBC news jumps on the college bad news bandwagon.

+ and more. . . .

Make sure to forward podcast link to your Higher Education friends.  No sense in just you getting latest news and commentary on the whole industry

Show notes and links

Rider President Says the University Will Survive

The Financial Risk of Declining Enrollment to Midsize Colleges

The price of admission:  How Selectivity Shapes Financial Resilience in Private Higher Education

Poll: In a dramatic shift, Americans no longer see four-year college degrees as worth the cost

This Thanksgiving week podcast includes stories on:

+ We are now ‘sunsetting’ programs and majors.

+ Columbia considers expanding undergraduate enrollment by up to 20 percent   (I wonder why?_

+ Rider U’s financial and accreditation troubles continue to make news.

+ In a dog bites man story:  University Of Nebraska Faculty Senate Votes No-Confidence Against its  Chancellor

+ When grades stop meaning anything (UC San Diego story from last week) Kelsey Piper on her Substack site

Show notes:

My email:  [email protected]

Simmons University proposes sunsetting five undergraduate majors during Town Hall

UCF lays off more than 60 employees as federal research funding dries up

Columbia considers expanding undergraduate enrollment by up to 20 percent

A major N.J. university is on ‘probation.’ Here’s what that means for students

N.J. university plans to cut 25% of professors — but its union is pushing back

Dept of Ed changes ……LI Post

Colleges ease the dreaded admissions process as the supply of applicants declines

University Of Nebraska Senate Votes No-Confidence Against Chancellor

When grades stop meaning anything

2 weeks after Trinity Christian closure announcement, Palos Heights knows little about college sale plans

TWICV News and Commentary for November 17, 2025

This is the podcast that talks about the financial health and viability of public and private colleges with data, details and perspectives offered nowhere else.

Where are we headed this week before Thanksgiving 2025?

+  It wouldn’t be a show without cutbacks and layoffs.  We had a closure announcement last week, but the college was so small, it did warrant big headlines.

+ Wittenberg U in Ohio:  On probation.  I will have the data for you.

+ Utica college president moves to get the college financially sound and it looks like he was chased out because of it.

+ Student protests at Mary Baldwin University (VA) because of cuts to minors.

+ I have a college president who, after the fact, says ‘we wanted to be smaller anyway’

+ Why Free Community College Is Missing The Mark In Massachusetts

+ and of course much more. . .

Show notes and links:

N.J. (Rider) university in financial crisis will lay off 40 professors, cut everyone’s pay

Keene State to lay off staff positions, asking faculty to retire after state cuts

Accreditor places Wittenberg on probation, citing ongoing financial problems

President of (Utica) university in Northeast steps down amid layoff threats, financial woes

Students protest Mary Baldwin University's decision to discontinue academic minors

Drexel’s first-year enrollment plummets by nearly twenty percent (corrected to 19.3%)

Change the Game and the Name of 'College Admissions'

Report finds UC San Diego freshmen not prepared for college-level math, writing classes

Why Free Community College Is Missing The Mark In Massachusetts

The headlines for November 10, 2025:

+ A college closure in Illinois.  How many more colleges are having that discussion?

+ IHE:  14 colleges with cutbacks and layoffs in October.

+ In Nebraska, faculty oppose academic program cuts

+ Accreditors move to control innovation

Show notes and links.

Suburban Trinity Chistian College to close at end of academic year due to financial challenges

October Brought Deep Cuts at Multiple Campuses

How Title IV Compliance Should Serve as Higher Education's New Strategic Planning

University of Nebraska-Lincoln committee opposes most academic program cuts

Pulling Back the Curtain on College Prices

Accreditors Launch Efforts to Endorse Short-Term Credential Providers

How college leaders can own the narrative about a major restructuring

Public college completion is heading in the wrong direction. One school is bucking the trend.

TWICV News and Commentary for November 3, 2025

This is the podcast that talks about the financial health and viability of public and private colleges with data, details and perspectives offered nowhere else.

Today’s show:  

+ Layoffs and cutbacks

+ How Closing a University Changes You

+ The Fragility of Small Scale   2025  Daniel Greenstein

+ Higher Ed Is Sleepwalking Toward Obsolescence — And AI Won’t Be the Cause, Just the Accelerant

+ Colleges Face a Financial Reckoning. The University of Chicago Is Exhibit A.

Show notes:

GU Faces Projected Financial Loss, International Student Enrollment Drop

Emails show UW-Madison to lay off 31 employees, among other cuts

Simmons University sees credit rating slashed to junk by Moody’s

How Closing a University Changes You

The Power and promise of higher education

Higher Ed Is Sleepwalking Toward Obsolescence — And AI Won’t Be the Cause, Just the Accelerant

Colleges Face a Financial Reckoning. The University of Chicago Is Exhibit A

TWICV News and Commentary for Oct 27 2025

This is the podcast that talks about the financial health and viability of public and private colleges with data, details and perspectives offered nowhere else.

Call it your college education about colleges.

This week:

+ Central Washington University says ‘ flat is good.”  Get out your anti-spin pills for this one.

+ Wilberforce University Launches Feasibility Study to Revive Historic Football Program 

+ Why college direct admissions is growing nationally

+ Jeff Selingo:  “It’s the cost.” And outcomes

+ Is Freezing tuition a good idea?

Stay informed with our weekly news note.  https://mailchi.mp/collegeviability/college-viability-app-sign-up

Show notes:
Michigan State University lays off 99 employees

University of Northern Colorado plans to lay off 50 employees

FLAT IS GOOD: Officials see positive signs in fall enrollment numbers at Central Washington University

Wilberforce University Launches Feasibility Study to Revive Historic Football Program 

You’re in and didn’t even apply? Why college direct admissions is growing nationally

As Financial Woes Mount, More Universities Turn To Staff Layoffs

Trump Wants Colleges to Freeze Tuition. Is That a Good Idea?

Podcasting sites were also impacted by the October 20th AWS issues.  So, a day late, probably not a dollar short.

Here are the show notes and links for stories in the Oct. 20th podcast

Higher ed layoff tracker: Mass. colleges cut more than 400 jobs over six months

UNC laying off approximately 50 staff to address budget deficit

Thomas Jefferson University to lay off about 650 employees

As its undergrad enrollment slid, UL’s hiring soared

Want to Know What You’ll Pay for College? There’s a Fast New Calculator for That.

Cosmetology Without Accountability: Failures of a Beauty School Accreditor

Americans’ Faith in Higher Ed Has Declined Even Further

Each week I wade through dozens and dozens of higher ed stories from either referrals from others or my own Google Alert searches.  The stories and commentary that make it onto the podcast are my best judgement of what my growing audience wants to hear.

For example, there was an Ohio private college president that posted this week that “ Just as culture eats strategy for breakfast, backbone beats brand”.  Now, I don’t know what that means.  He was trying to create a perception that his college was doing well.    After a review of the 4ygr and some financial indicators. I passed on this story.  Not that it shouldn’t be told, but there are other similar stories I can use.  BTW, this Ohio private has been increasing its endowment draw above the 4-5% target and has a 15% negative net income margin from 2016 -2024.    This college is not going to close, but they are prototypical of colleges engaging in chronic lack of transparency.   Almost an industry-wide genetic predisposition to spin half-stories.

But that is why I am here.  I am fully transparent. I am your higher education quality control resource.  Colleges spin.  I reverse the spin and get the true story out.

This week:

+  I continue to see an increasing number of layoffs and cutbacks.  I will have details.  Harvard is among those on my list this week.

+ Private Colleges Are Pitching Free Tuition for Middle-Class Students. Will It Make a Difference?

+ 2 N.J. universities just took a huge step toward a mega-merger

+ Ending Surprise Bills in Higher Education

+ Requiem For A College: At Forbes review  Jon Nichols.

Sign up for regular updates on the financial health of colleges here. 

Show notes and links

WWU enrollment drops, with smallest first-year class since 2020

Harvard’s School of Engineering and Applied Sciences Lays Off 25% of HUCTW Staff

NKU to eliminate some positions to address budget shortfall

CMU lays off 75 staffers in Software Engineering Institute, citing federal funding changes

Private Colleges Are Pitching Free Tuition for Middle-Class Students. Will It Make a Difference?

What happens to college towns after peak 18-year-old?

2 N.J. universities just took a huge step toward a mega-merger

Ending Surprise Bills in Higher Education

Requiem For A College: A Heartbreaking Tale, A Crucial Conversation

This is the podcast that talks about the financial health and viability of public and private colleges with data, details and perspectives offered nowhere else.  Forward the podcast link to your higher education friends.  No sense in just you getting latest news and commentary on the whole industry.

This week’s show includes:

+ Many layoff and cutback stories

+ More tuition resets that focus on access but not success

+ More Colleges Promise Graduates Employment, Grad School Placement.  

+ America’s Distorted Market for Higher Education

+ and much more.   . . .

Sign up for regular updates on the financial health of colleges here.

Show notes:

Layoffs, spending cuts hit Washington University in St. Louis

Berklee College of Music lays off 70 employees, no faculty

At least 55 more employees let go, USC reports 692 total layoffs as deficit reductions continue

DePaul University to cut spending after 30% drop in international students

Emory & Henry University Lowers Tuition by 50% for Upcoming Year

Bluffton University announces new affordability initiatives for incoming students

Local university launches new program offering minimum of $30K; here's what to know

More Colleges Promise Graduates Employment, Grad School Placement

‘A perfect storm’ — more colleges at risk as enrollment falls and financial pressures mount

America’s Distorted Market for Higher Education

In my many years on this earth, I have coached youth sports, served as a basketball referee and baseball umpire for many of those years.

As I watch the NIL and transfer portal news, I have been pondering the medium and longer-term fate of the youth sports industry. 

Steve Dittmore caught my attention recently with his 'Glory Days' Substack site.  I reached out to him and what resulted is a novel look at college sports and some informed speculation on its impact on the youth sports industry.

Here are some of the questions I asked Steve.

1. When we first chatted, you shared that the US has an education-based model for training Olympics athletes.   Your point was that colleges subsidize Olympic athletes.  As you have also shared, other nations have dedicated Olympics sports organizations.  How reasonable is it that dedicated sports organizations end up replacing the education-based model in our country?

2.  You have suggested that a college with a student-athlete rate of 44% or higher is financially risky.  What is the story behind that 44% number?

3.  Talk about your Substack site.  What are your reasons for posting and hosting that site?

4.   One of the many interesting thoughts that came out of our first discussion was about a scenario where the Power 4 football leaves the NCAA.  Share your thoughts on what could happen to non-Power 4 sports and the Olympic sports at Power 4 conferences.

5.  My fascination with all of the NIL and House settlement changes is their down-the-road impact on youth sports.  I have been intimately involved in youth sports for decades - as a coach, basketball referee, and baseball umpire.  I watched many parents invest considerable sums in youth sports teams.  In almost all cases, my perception was this was in investment that would be returned with a college scholarship.  As you and I know, that scenario is successful for only a few.

   There is a massive market for youth sports that includes coaching, training, and community investments in youth sports (defined as 10–18-year-olds) facilities.  If colleges end up cutting back on sports for financial reasons, speculate for us what impact that might have on the youth sports industry.

6. Finally, I want to talk about a model of single-sport conferences.  We talked previously about some of the ugly travel for college sports teams.  A single-sport conference would be more geographically concise.  Talk us through the benefits and drawbacks of that model.