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When I click on the ValpoFanZone, I now see a page with only the most recent entry in a few categories.  Is this some kind of an accident in our or just my portal path?  Or is this a deliberate change in the topics menu?

There were more recent posts on other topics than the Feb. 8 sports one.

Indeed that's serious. 

The article cites a healthy "balance sheet" of assets at Bradley. Valpo has the same situation. Like Bradley, VU's property and endowment fund are valuable. But those assets are not liquid for paying the mortgage. 

A "house poor" homeowner can sell his house. A university can't find anyone to buy its mortgaged buildings.  Bradley may not have as much building debt, but it obviously carries a lot.   

2-5.  Hope we compete reasonably in those 3 tough road games. But wins not likely.

It only became relevant when Valpo sent out a news release with the word, Latinx.  Clearly the hispanic community hates it with 3% in favor by one published source.  So why would Valpo proclaim success using that word?   

But yeah, I can let up on the broader points.

Hopefully, the barrage of stupidity in terms of ubiquitous DEI, virtue signaling, and contradictory DEI treatment of Asians and Jews will all implode on higher education soon as it comes home to roost.   The U. of Michigan had over DEI employees last year with 2/3 earning over $100,000.   

The common sense public is catching on fast this year to this idiocy in the manner as the progressive idiocy of self identification of gender. Which hat will I wear today in terms of my restroom choice? Woe to the democrats outside the rich clueless liberal areas.

Yeah, I get the Pgmado point. but usually higher education leads the way in contriving words and identities.  This quote below comes from a Boston University periodical "BUtoday" that seems a bit more self-aware than most.

If Hispanics Hate the Term "Latinx," Why Is It Still Used?   CAS' Maia Gil'Adí says that polling agencies have given the word an unfair reputation   ---

Now comes the rise of the divisive—but gender-neutral—"Latinx," touted by progressives for its supposed modern hipness, yet somewhat reviled by the people it represents.

Wow. The press release uses the term  "Latinx". 

I had the impression that the laugh out loud reaction to the term was even embarrassing to liberals by now who are major proponents.  It's being forced into the lexicon of the country without a lot of success.  How about just saying latinas and latinos?  Or is there a gender I am skipping? 

Now I am seeing the President of my alma mater use it.  One more concession to silliness in the identity olympics.

We raised a ton of money ($250 million) in our big ENDOWMENT campaign that ended in 2021 of 2022 and it was widely heralded as a Heckler legacy.   

So:

With the strong market rebound in 2023 (well over 25%), how much endowment income is forecast for the 2024-2025 academic year? How will that compare to 2023-2024 and prior years?

And of course that "Forever" money from Heckler was alleged to raise spendable money too.  Where did that money go?

That 40 point win over SLU got my attention.   I don't watch this team closely  But if they beat athletes of that caliber that badly, then I don't see this ending well.

Here is a different issue on future revenue, though not related to tenure. Small universities, for funding reasons seem to be reaching badly to add degrees and niche programs (i.e. sports management). But a lot of market-driven service careers don't need the 4-year  residential degree.

By example, my daughter's friend at a flagship university majored in hospitality management. She says that the business course substance need 1-2 years max. She thinks she is wasting her parents money in the other courses. God help those kids who borrow to get it. But, the flagship brand does bring networks and opens doors in a sales skills position. But without the reach of a wide-reaching flagship brand, I don't see a Bradley or Valpo grad trading broadly on their brand. 

Hi David81.  You are the most knowledgable guy on the board along with a few other professors. And the political side sounds fair.  So I defer.  But "misuse of federal funds" sounds a bit different and a wider net on the surface than GCU's exaggeration of its product and not spelling a contract to adults. Maybe more is being alleged against GCU practices and I don't know.   

My impression is that the bigger picture with the GCU controversies is that the state of Arizona granted them a return to non-profit status after they pocketed income as a for-profit, getting their cake and able to eat it too. On the tax side of that issue Arizona was willing to forfeit that tax revenue. But Uncle Same wants their cut.  That non-profit issue impact on Federal taxes is a reasonable debate in the courts. I think the cynical aspect is wondering if GCU is now targeted for avoiding Fed taxes.   

Thanks for underscoring the PhD as a research degree.   

Not to be snide, but shouldn't a potential research degree applicant be required to do his own due diligence on see that "elite" is a glossy sales term that overstates the caliber of the degree.  Learning the accreditation levels seems simpler than doing a dissertation at the intensity of research a PhD would require. 

It seems like we are turning out a surplus of naive students who lack common sense.  GCU PhDs won't build my bridges or operate on my heart so just let the market punish the buyer for not sorting through the hype. 

The central tenet of contract law is "caveat emptor" (let the buyer beware.) If you exempt buyers from payments you create a moral hazard to the tax payer or you charge the actual risk cost of the market.

This all adds up to a screaming irony.  PhD students are adults, not 18-year-olds. They signPed it they pay it.   If that is too tough on a PhD then god knows we don't need more of ones who cry about it or don't get it.

I think you were pointing out Roger Powell Sr.  I saw that and googled around a bit.  It sounds like he was deadly from outside, and before the 3-pointer.

Agreed big-time on this guy being a motivator and salesman.  You can find assistants to help bench strategy if he's still learning that.  But you just can't teach his intangibles. He will be up and out in five years or less, but I predict a lot of recruitment and game excitement in years 3-5.

Valpo1995 points out well the structural deficit issue vs. the endowment bump I mentioned.  The board should address those before giving itself an "out: through an extra chunk of spending.

He also says the 2023 market growth is mitigated by some VU fixed investments. And maybe they use a  trailing average that also mitigates the effect.  But the good market year does help in any case.

Wow, this is going be a grind.  But we all know we hired the right coach and he needs two years of full recruitment time.  I am so sad to be nearly right about predicting an 81-65 loss. 

The tired legs would certainly affect shooting.  However, I think the first half shooting has been really bad too. Do we simply not have enough inside threats to make defenders run back and forth to double the bigger guys and also guard the shooters?  I think that might be a bigger factor?

Seems like a game just crying out to played on weekday afternoon TV.

Fred and Lamont Samford     81
Valpo                                  66

Never mind, I answered both my questions and Kretizers. 

Schools winning the grants were: 

$30M Taylor, $25M Wabash, $25M Earlham, $25M Ball Sate, $25M Purdue, $5.8m Indiana State.

https://lillyendowment.org/news/initiative-seeks-to-strengthen-quality-of-life-and-place-in-indiana-communities/

Any idea how many of the schools in Indiana got grants in the first round? and/or what size of grants we are talking about?

The market has come roaring back in 2023. The S&P is up 20% YTD.  It has nearly gained back all the 2022 losses. I sure didn't see that coming in the face of high interest rates on fixed investments. 

Perhaps an extra distribution in 2024 can help bridge us to a better enrollment.

I have been thinking that we are building a NEW dorm. 

Renovation would be a much faster job.  What are the odds (today) that they can open a renovated dorm by Fall 2024? (slim)......by Fall 2025?  Naturally you need to back plan against the paintings sale income and a few months of construction bidding. Hopefully the drawings and plans are final and ready to go.

I can't imagine a better ambassador than Roger Powell in terms of reaching dozens of constituencies.

Indeed that's encouraging.  It sounds like there are steady hands at this wheel. 

This Moody's thread is much more pertinent to Valpo than the current congressional hearings & Ivy League debacle. I think there is a modicum of common sense left in university leadership when you journey away from the coasts.  I trust Padilla to be pragmatic in the face of any crisis.

Thanks VU72.  The second article quickly nails down the stats. It looks like the percentage of presidents in the main two minority groups are roughly the same percentage of all U.S. citizens. It looks like hat battle is won.

I overreacted when I saw that ONLY TWO of the Ivy League school presidents were MALE.