PASSHE Institutions Merging

[Horror Child]

Big money restricted for a specific strategic use would absolutely help. An endowment to boost the president salary to get someone with experience or who would never consider Cheyney. An endowment to bring in a big name professor who would attract students and more donors. Big money and a true national partnership. Unfortunately I don't think anyone at any PASSHE school or office has that sort of vision.

My point was that the money, no matter how big, is never big enough. So it will only require more money.

Did anyone here choose to attend a school because of a big name professor?

[Fightingscot82]

Ah yes, the elixir that subsequently needs further transformative big money.

Big money restricted for a specific strategic use would absolutely help. An endowment to boost the president salary to get someone with experience or who would never consider Cheyney. An endowment to bring in a big name professor who would attract students and more donors. Big money and a true national partnership. Unfortunately I don't think anyone at any PASSHE school or office has that sort of vision.

[Horror Child]

Yes. Cheyney agreed to a state-overseen remediation plan after some financial mismanagement on top of declining enrollment. The plan recognized that Cheyney would run up significant deficits but if they met all success markers within a certain time period the system would forgive the debt taken on to cover their deficit spending. Cheyney did hit those markers and the debt was forgiven - about $40 million. The new president is doing a pretty decent job of keeping things stable. Their isolation allowed them to maintain mostly normal operations during the pandemic. I believe their case counts per capita are the lowest in the system. But with a corporate exec as president he's forging corporate partnerships that are gaining praise. They just need to figure out how to get more students to enroll. The 10-15 years of open admission cost them dearly in reputation.

I'd love to see some transformative big money thrown at Cheyney from a donor. Something that really puts them on the map and attracts attention (and students). Endow a position for Cornell West now that he's announced he's leaving Harvard. Hire a big money noteworthy HBCU president the next time around. Get a black CEO to create a big time partnership. Otherwise Cheyney will probably have a long road out of the bottom tier HBCUs with places like Coppin, Central St, Wilberforce, etc.

Ah yes, the elixir that subsequently needs further transformative big money.

[iupgroundhog]

I never liked being boxed in, so I would find a table in the back of the stacks and spread everything out. At IUP I rented a room from a retired couple, so it was quite. The library was a mess because of construction, but I did check out information in the form of writing that was composed of many paper pages and bound together and protected by a cover. I did visit a dorm tv lounge to watch the news; that was the extent of the technology I used.

I remember "books." Such a quaint idea. So darn heavy.

[Bart]

Did you have a carrel at IUP?

I never liked being boxed in, so I would find a table in the back of the stacks and spread everything out. At IUP I rented a room from a retired couple, so it was quite. The library was a mess because of construction, but I did check out information in the form of writing that was composed of many paper pages and bound together and protected by a cover. I did visit a dorm tv lounge to watch the news; that was the extent of the technology I used.

[iupgroundhog]

That was my favorite spot to study. Dormitories were too loud. Now I guess students can study in their private sound proof apartments.

Did you have a carrel at IUP?

[Bart]

Libraries are glorified study halls now. It doesn't surprise me that this hasn't happened more often.

That was my favorite spot to study. Dormitories were too loud. Now I guess students can study in their private sound proof apartments.

[Fightingscot82]

https://www.fox43.com/article/news/l...9-20728ff78403

Cheyney doesn't have a library? I guess everything is on computers now.

Libraries are glorified study halls now. It doesn't surprise me that this hasn't happened more often.

[Bart]

https://www.fox43.com/article/news/l...9-20728ff78403

Cheyney doesn't have a library? I guess everything is on computers now.

[complaint_hopeful]

Seems like a market correction going on in higher ed. That's how market forces work. Too much supply? Then some will go out of business. The schools are just fighting so it's not them. But, some will fail...or they'll just adjust and be much smaller schools.

[Fightingscot82]

Cabrini is cutting 20% of their majors and eliminating nearly 20% of their workforce.

https://www.inquirer.com/education/c...-20210315.html

[iupgroundhog]

Yes. Cheyney agreed to a state-overseen remediation plan after some financial mismanagement on top of declining enrollment. The plan recognized that Cheyney would run up significant deficits but if they met all success markers within a certain time period the system would forgive the debt taken on to cover their deficit spending. Cheyney did hit those markers and the debt was forgiven - about $40 million. The new president is doing a pretty decent job of keeping things stable. Their isolation allowed them to maintain mostly normal operations during the pandemic. I believe their case counts per capita are the lowest in the system. But with a corporate exec as president he's forging corporate partnerships that are gaining praise. They just need to figure out how to get more students to enroll. The 10-15 years of open admission cost them dearly in reputation.

I'd love to see some transformative big money thrown at Cheyney from a donor. Something that really puts them on the map and attracts attention (and students). Endow a position for Cornell West now that he's announced he's leaving Harvard. Hire a big money noteworthy HBCU president the next time around. Get a black CEO to create a big time partnership. Otherwise Cheyney will probably have a long road out of the bottom tier HBCUs with places like Coppin, Central St, Wilberforce, etc.

So, I had to google on this. The article below indicates that the much-ballyhooed corporate partnerships weren't that significant. It also suggests that these relationships were stalled and this came out before the pandemic. Also, this is from the Philadelphia Tribune whose owner is Chairman of the Cheyney Board of Directors so this is the most optimistic outlook you'll find.

https://www.phillytrib.com/news/stat...040c26cf2.html

[Fightingscot82]

Schools generally have reserves of varying amounts...but they're depleting those...especially with covid...which is one of the reasons for the extreme measures/time frame. I think it was the last BOG meeting that showed that there were schools with really low amounts of reserves. I forget if it was 30 days or 90 days. Then there was another group with slightly more. So once those schools burn those reserves, the others have to help.

The odd thing to me is that while each school has reserves, PASSHE kind of talks about the reserves like they go into 1 big account.

So I don't know. Someone else posted how like Pitt and Penn State make money on their main campus and lose on others. IF there is truly one account, and they won't shut schools...maybe they need to look at the system differently. Like some campuses will lose money, but the WCU's of the world will be like the 'main' campus that carries it?

I think Chaney is the only one who actually failed financially, but I think there was some type of loan from passhe/state to help them. Someone with more knowledge of this could clarify.

Yes. Cheyney agreed to a state-overseen remediation plan after some financial mismanagement on top of declining enrollment. The plan recognized that Cheyney would run up significant deficits but if they met all success markers within a certain time period the system would forgive the debt taken on to cover their deficit spending. Cheyney did hit those markers and the debt was forgiven - about $40 million. The new president is doing a pretty decent job of keeping things stable. Their isolation allowed them to maintain mostly normal operations during the pandemic. I believe their case counts per capita are the lowest in the system. But with a corporate exec as president he's forging corporate partnerships that are gaining praise. They just need to figure out how to get more students to enroll. The 10-15 years of open admission cost them dearly in reputation.

I'd love to see some transformative big money thrown at Cheyney from a donor. Something that really puts them on the map and attracts attention (and students). Endow a position for Cornell West now that he's announced he's leaving Harvard. Hire a big money noteworthy HBCU president the next time around. Get a black CEO to create a big time partnership. Otherwise Cheyney will probably have a long road out of the bottom tier HBCUs with places like Coppin, Central St, Wilberforce, etc.

[BADinPA]

How do you pay off the debt of closing a campus? Some of these schools owe $70+ million. The Chancellor has said numerous times that closure isn't an option.

It becomes a problem of the Commonwealth. Harrisburg was part of the problem so they (and PA taxpayers) have to accept the lion's share of the responsibility. I agree with IUPNation to cut the cord with Pitt, Penn State, and maybe Temple.

[Horror Child]

The triads are basically 2 schools failing fairly badly financially merging with a school breaking even to slightly in financial trouble. With the management and employees of the 3 schools (along with consultants( creating a new entity that they feel will be successful.

There's definitely red flags.

But do they really?