My simplistic view: Generally, I characterize Valpo as a private, liberal arts with some additional schools of focus, 2,500-3,000 student institution that heavily attracts students from the central and upper midwest, but also, because of its religious association, also attracts students nationally as well as internationally. It's endowment falls within the $200M-$400M window. Its sticker price is kinda on the high end for where it is located. Is that fair?
At least according to postings on this board, Valpo is in trouble and is looking for a remedy. One strategy is hire a high-powered consultant that has dealt with large schools like WVU. As David has mentioned, these guys come with templates and canned predispositions.
But there's gotta be institutions that parallel, within reason, the Valpo profile I characterized above and are kicking butt. Who are they? Why are they swimming successfully against the current? Can we pick their minds directly rather than through a consultant's filter? Is that something that can occur in higher education?
For smirks and giggles let's assume, say, Davidson is one of those excelling schools. Why not do formal visits to Davidson as well as BLANK and BLANK colleges and explore with them their strategies that have resulted in resilience in the face of current trends? All institutions are at risk. Cooperation benefits all - the rising tide floats all boats idea.
My parallel rationale: I coached HS football in another life (actually a few lives ago). When I thought I needed to adopt a new offense or defense to better compete, I researched college programs that were very successful under similar circumstances (e.g., smallest school in the league, lower talent level) at their level, and I visited with those programs in the spring in order to learn how they did it, and I learned a helluva lot in those visits and was able to make positive changes as a result.
IMO, no matter how much experience one has, there are people who have done it better. Those sources need to be sought out and tapped. Directly. Personally. Not blindly through a third party.
At least according to postings on this board, Valpo is in trouble and is looking for a remedy. One strategy is hire a high-powered consultant that has dealt with large schools like WVU. As David has mentioned, these guys come with templates and canned predispositions.
But there's gotta be institutions that parallel, within reason, the Valpo profile I characterized above and are kicking butt. Who are they? Why are they swimming successfully against the current? Can we pick their minds directly rather than through a consultant's filter? Is that something that can occur in higher education?
For smirks and giggles let's assume, say, Davidson is one of those excelling schools. Why not do formal visits to Davidson as well as BLANK and BLANK colleges and explore with them their strategies that have resulted in resilience in the face of current trends? All institutions are at risk. Cooperation benefits all - the rising tide floats all boats idea.
My parallel rationale: I coached HS football in another life (actually a few lives ago). When I thought I needed to adopt a new offense or defense to better compete, I researched college programs that were very successful under similar circumstances (e.g., smallest school in the league, lower talent level) at their level, and I visited with those programs in the spring in order to learn how they did it, and I learned a helluva lot in those visits and was able to make positive changes as a result.
IMO, no matter how much experience one has, there are people who have done it better. Those sources need to be sought out and tapped. Directly. Personally. Not blindly through a third party.
)
). That's why I suggested just one game. Incidentally (or hypocritically), the Ivies don't have a problem with other NCAA tournaments (like March Madness that stretches for weeks) because the rosters of those sports are a fraction of a football roster is my guess. .