It will take 18-24 months because it's like a venture capitalist considering investing in a failing debt-ridden company. As the company leader, you may be visionary, but you need to lay out some realistic 6, 12, and 18-month benchmarks and hit them first before the investor type donors will invest big money.
I would love nothing more than for Valpo to raise the money for the nursing building in 18-24 months, but let me offer some realism here. My university raised over $60M in 24 months for a new business building. The driver was the Dean who is an exceptional fundraiser and was very well connected in the city's business community and among the alumni base when he started. Further, the university is in a fairly large city and the College of Business has a much larger alumni base, with a fair number of alums who could afford 6 and 7 figure donations.
By all means, Valpo should set shorter term goals to get funding for the nursing/health sciences building (3-4 years with interim milestones) and that should be priority #1. But don't set goals that cannot be reached...and thus will not be taken seriously by potential donors.
@vu84v2 - agreed. I also think Valpo needs to throw a lot of chips at making the college of nursing and health services strong as that is clearly the growth opportunity.
I agree that we need to grow our Nursing programs. I have been impressed with what I have seen of the Occupational Therapy program as well. I'd also love to see continued promotion of both our Social Work and Psychology programs as both no have graduate options allowing for recruitment of students not just for undergrad but for graduate as well. I think it also does fall into our university concept as Servant Leaders. Devotion to serving others can be a way to market all of our programs uniquely and tie them into the universities mission.
What does anyone think about the recent downgrading of nursing out of the “professional degree” category and its possible impact on Valpo’s nursing and health services programs? Will that have an impact on the ability to 1) continue to attract applicants to Valpo and 2) might that have a chilling effect on fundraising for the needed new facility?
What does anyone think about the recent downgrading of nursing out of the “professional degree” category and its possible impact on Valpo’s nursing and health services programs? Will that have an impact on the ability to 1) continue to attract applicants to Valpo and 2) might that have a chilling effect on fundraising for the needed new facility?
My understanding is that this 'downgrade' limits the loan amount from the federal government from $50K per year to $25K per year. While I don't agree with considering nursing to be 'non-professional', I don't think it will have much of an impact. The average Valpo student pays about $26K to $28K in tuition after scholarships and then additional money for housing and food. But I think few nursing students take out $25K per year in loans. Thus, the impact on attracting applicants is likely to be very small and should have little or no effect on fundraising for the building.
I believe it mostly is focused on graduate student aid vs undergraduate aid. It could have some effect on PA or OT programs but I would also assume that 3+2 programs like the PA would then become an even better bargain.
Our conversation went way into the weeds. The bottom line as agreed, is that Dr. Konkol will need to attract large gifts from large donors who were wary (or still wary) of the financial weakness of VU. His vision and personality are certainly major factors in gaining their confidence. I am excited to give him 6-12 months to secure big commitments to his vision. I don't know how much longer the VU debts can be carried fully.
Well folks, President Konkol is taking this semester break to relocate to Valparaiso. It's a personally momentous move for him and his family, and probably the most significant VU presidency since the days of O.P. Kretzmann.
So far, he's been sounding the right notes, suggesting that he understands this university and its current situation, yet is here to build on its core principles and strengths, rather than preside over another period of scarcity and cuts, the latter of which is the default mentality at so many peer schools.
Schools that have self-defined, enduring values and missions start with that base as a foundational advantage. By contrast, "staying open" is the unstated "mission" of institutions that don't have a strong sense of themselves. VU is in the former category. With the right leadership and good decision making, it can be among the smaller number of private universities outside of the elite circle that thrives, rather than simply tries to stay afloat among the pain of a thousand cuts.
Looking forward to his arrival! Have they announced any kind of inauguration or campus event? Thinking of making the drive up there for this one.
Terrific opening message from President Konkol this morning!
Terrific opening message from President Konkol this morning!
He's using a voice of gratitude for the opportunity and of optimism for the university. He speaks like this is a personal destination appointment for him, and he's ready to dig in.
Perhaps in "objective" terms, the optimism is not justified by the numbers and the overall situation. But O.P. faced similar challenges when he stepped up to lead a flagging little university in 1940, to be followed soon by America's formal entry into the war. I think Pres. Konkol knows that talking and acting like a typical university CEO is not what VU needs, and I don't think it's his natural leadership style in any event. Rather, he knows that this community seeks hope and inspiration and a leader who is bought in completely.
This is the kind of president VU needs at this critical juncture. And he's not waiting around until next autumn to set a tone for his presidency.
Apparently in an initial move (literally), Pres. Konkol is taking a step many at the university will view, at least symbolically, as positive and a separation from the previous administration. After Pres. Padilla had relocated the President's Office to the far reaches of the campus at Heritage Hall amid the turmoil with faculty and students in early 2023, word is that Konkol is beginning his tenure by returning the office to the center of activities in Kretzmann Hall.
Apparently in an initial move (literally), Pres. Konkol is taking a step many at the university will view, at least symbolically, as positive and a separation from the previous administration. After Pres. Padilla had relocated the President's Office to the far reaches of the campus at Heritage Hall amid the turmoil with faculty and students in early 2023, word is that Konkol is beginning his tenure by returning the office to the center of activities in Kretzmann Hall.
If true, this is an excellent move (literally).
I get the idea that Pres. Konkol knows he will need to make some hard decisions, but that he also needs to be available to listen and explain his decisions.
Truly a good sign. It’s also heartening to see, per social media, that Konkol is speaking at Chapel Break on Wednesday. Chapel services are live-streamed, so I’ll tune in for this one.
Communication from Rev. Brian Konkol has been awesome thus far. We have had him speak at a basketball game, emails for the start of the semester and his first day on the job, and he was lined up to talk this morning at Chapel Break. I know these aren’t revolutionary acts, but it’s great to see a president actually do what they’re supposed to. Hopefully, he continues to stay active in the community.
