OT: D1

[IUPNation]

An update on Mercyhurst's finances:

6 straight years of budget deficits

6 straight years of enrollment declines

7 straight years of endowment portfolio losses

7% enrollment decline over the last 10 years


Source: Robert Kelchen, professor at Univ of Tennessee who studies university finances



D1 sports is a hail mary.

..and it won’t be full
of grace.

[EyeoftheHawk]

An update on Mercyhurst's finances:

6 straight years of budget deficits

6 straight years of enrollment declines

7 straight years of endowment portfolio losses

7% enrollment decline over the last 10 years


Source: Robert Kelchen, professor at Univ of Tennessee who studies university finances



D1 sports is a hail mary.

A Hail Mary that’s likely to fall incomplete. Wow, that’s awful but I suppose you have to try something. I’m not sure I understand the logic though because I could see D1 sports costing them more money than it brings them back through the various avenues given the low rent conference they’re in. I can’t imagine it’s going to be a big draw for new undergrads all the sudden. I don’t root for their failure but I certainly wouldn’t bet on their success.

[Fightingscot82]

A Hail Mary that’s likely to fall incomplete. Wow, that’s awful but I suppose you have to try something. I’m not sure I understand the logic though because I could see D1 sports costing them more money than it brings them back through the various avenues given the low rent conference they’re in. I can’t imagine it’s going to be a big draw for new undergrads all the sudden. I don’t root for their failure but I certainly wouldn’t bet on their success.

So far its done nothing but cost them money. They instantly have to start paying more in conference dues, budget for much more overnight travel to much more expensive locations, coaches want to be paid D1 money not D2 money, and then there are conference minimums for scholarships they have to factor into their master discounting budget.

[Fightingscot82]

A Hail Mary that’s likely to fall incomplete. Wow, that’s awful but I suppose you have to try something. I’m not sure I understand the logic though because I could see D1 sports costing them more money than it brings them back through the various avenues given the low rent conference they’re in. I can’t imagine it’s going to be a big draw for new undergrads all the sudden. I don’t root for their failure but I certainly wouldn’t bet on their success.

The person who did the study identified three key areas of financial stress: consistently losing money, declining enrollment, and declining state appropriation (public) or declining endowment portfolio value (private). Two thirds of all colleges fail in at least one area (being pass/fail). For PASSHE, all three are related: schools with declining enrollment are going to lose money because budget is set in May but enrollment fluctuates greatly between May and September, then the following year fewer students means a smaller piece of the PASSHE appropriation pie.

The only PASSHE school that isn't failing all three tests is Slippery Rock but they failed 2 of 3. We often hear about how well Gannon is doing, but they failed all three tests. Seton Hill and Shepherd even worse. I call BS on Pitt Johnstown because they claim 8 straight years of enrollment losses but no operating losses. That's theoretically impossible, but that's like saying my wife doesn't have a spending problem when my salary fills the gap.

[Boro33]

The person who did the study identified three key areas of financial stress: consistently losing money, declining enrollment, and declining state appropriation (public) or declining endowment portfolio value (private). Two thirds of all colleges fail in at least one area (being pass/fail). For PASSHE, all three are related: schools with declining enrollment are going to lose money because budget is set in May but enrollment fluctuates greatly between May and September, then the following year fewer students means a smaller piece of the PASSHE appropriation pie.

The only PASSHE school that isn't failing all three tests is Slippery Rock but they failed 2 of 3. We often hear about how well Gannon is doing, but they failed all three tests. Seton Hill and Shepherd even worse. I call BS on Pitt Johnstown because they claim 8 straight years of enrollment losses but no operating losses. That's theoretically impossible, but that's like saying my wife doesn't have a spending problem when my salary fills the gap.

S

Shippensburg University has had no problem at all filling beds on campus. Not sure where they rank but financially they are in really good shape.

[Fightingscot82]

S

Shippensburg University has had no problem at all filling beds on campus. Not sure where they rank but financially they are in really good shape.

In the last 10 years:

Operating loss in 8 of 10 years

Enrollment decline in 8 of 10 years

State appropriation decline in 2 of 10 years

30% enrollment drop over 10 years

[Tdobson]

If Mercyhurst isnt doing well financially, is there any chance tries to return to the PSAC and if so would they take them back?

I can’t see Mercyhurst being very good at the 1aa level.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

If Mercyhurst isnt doing well financially, is there any chance tries to return to the PSAC and if so would they take them back?

I can’t see Mercyhurst being very good at the 1aa level.

Never say never, but they didn't leave on good terms. They screwed over the PSAC pretty good.

Ten years from now ... with new people in leadership on both ends ... who knows.

[ctrabs74]

The only PASSHE school that isn't failing all three tests is Slippery Rock but they failed 2 of 3. We often hear about how well Gannon is doing, but they failed all three tests. Seton Hill and Shepherd even worse. I call BS on Pitt Johnstown because they claim 8 straight years of enrollment losses but no operating losses. That's theoretically impossible, but that's like saying my wife doesn't have a spending problem when my salary fills the gap.

I'd be willing to bet that UPJ's lack of operating losses is covered up through a lot of help from the Mothership in Oakland. The best analogy I could use is that New York's PATH train between North Jersey and Manhattan operates at a loss but it gets covered up by toll money and other revenue sources of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (or, for that matter, Philly's PATCO having any losses subsidized by the Delaware River Port Authority's bridge tolls between South Jersey and Philly).

[Fightingscot82]

Never say never, but they didn't leave on good terms. They screwed over the PSAC pretty good.

Ten years from now ... with new people in leadership on both ends ... who knows.

Exactly. 25 years ago there was no way in hell a private school was joining the PSAC.

[Boro33]

In the last 10 years:

Operating loss in 8 of 10 years

Enrollment decline in 8 of 10 years

State appropriation decline in 2 of 10 years

30% enrollment drop over 10 years

Interesting. All I know is that their beds are completely full every fall. They have built brand new dorms. They have a new hotel/convention center on campus the was built in the last few years.

[iupgroundhog]

Interesting. All I know is that their beds are completely full every fall. They have built brand new dorms. They have a new hotel/convention center on campus the was built in the last few years.

How is that possible given their drop in enrollment?

Also, it seems that they have not done a good job of getting out the word on their hotel/convention center.

[Fightingscot82]

Interesting. All I know is that their beds are completely full every fall. They have built brand new dorms. They have a new hotel/convention center on campus the was built in the last few years.

Shippensburg in Fall 2024:

Total Beds/Capacity: 2,538

Total Students Living in University Housing: 2,061

Occupancy Rate: 81.2%

Source: PASSHE Advanced Data Analytics

Pennsylvania's State System of Higher Education
Fall 2024 Housing Capacity Summary by University
University	Maximum Capacity	Number of Beds in Building Available at Census (as reported to IPEDS)	Number of students in Building	Occupancy Rate
Cheyney	780	772	556	72.0%
Commonwealth	5,159	5,066	4,340	85.7%
East Stroudsburg	2,682	2,682	2,574	96.0%
Indiana	3,752	3,632	2,832	78.0%
Kutztown	3,819	3,819	3,357	87.9%
Millersville	2,197	2,197	2,133	97.1%
Penn West	6,168	4,214	2,965	70.4%
Shippensburg	2,538	2,537	2,061	81.2%
Slippery Rock	2,759	2,995	2,835	94.7%
West Chester	5,402	5,304	5,285	99.6%
System Total	35,256	33,218	28,938	87.1%

[Ship69]

Shippensburg in Fall 2024:

Total Beds/Capacity: 2,538

Total Students Living in University Housing: 2,061

Occupancy Rate: 81.2%

Source: PASSHE Advanced Data Analytics

Pennsylvania's State System of Higher Education
Fall 2024 Housing Capacity Summary by University
University	Maximum Capacity	Number of Beds in Building Available at Census (as reported to IPEDS)	Number of students in Building	Occupancy Rate
Cheyney	780	772	556	72.0%
Commonwealth	5,159	5,066	4,340	85.7%
East Stroudsburg	2,682	2,682	2,574	96.0%
Indiana	3,752	3,632	2,832	78.0%
Kutztown	3,819	3,819	3,357	87.9%
Millersville	2,197	2,197	2,133	97.1%
Penn West	6,168	4,214	2,965	70.4%
Shippensburg	2,538	2,537	2,061	81.2%
Slippery Rock	2,759	2,995	2,835	94.7%
West Chester	5,402	5,304	5,285	99.6%
System Total	35,256	33,218	28,938	87.1%

Overly optimistic projections of enrollment years back resulted in a flurry of rental housing being built in Shippensburg, making it more difficult to keep the dorm rooms filled. While they have built new dorms, some of the older ones are not utilized much for undergraduate housing and my former dorm, which one housed 400 men, has been torn down. It's a huge difference from when I attended and you had to scramble as a senior to find suitable housing off-campus. That said, we have very competent leadership at Ship and, providing some level of support from the state (not always a guarantee these days), I feel reasonably confident about the future of the school.

[Fightingscot82]

Overly optimistic projections of enrollment years back resulted in a flurry of rental housing being built in Shippensburg, making it more difficult to keep the dorm rooms filled. While they have built new dorms, some of the older ones are not utilized much for undergraduate housing and my former dorm, which one housed 400 men, has been torn down. It's a huge difference from when I attended and you had to scramble as a senior to find suitable housing off-campus. That said, we have very competent leadership at Ship and, providing some level of support from the state (not always a guarantee these days), I feel reasonably confident about the future of the school.

"Kids these days" don't want the old fashioned cell block dorms of our experience. They want their own bedroom and to share a bathroom with as few people as possible.

As long as Ship can continue to convince kids to come to Ship they'll be okay. But there's just not enough population around if that changes to survive off of commuters and adults.