Troubling Times For Higher Education

The morning after the 2016 presidential election I wrote a piece about the state of higher education in the country today. The cost of attending college has become astronomical that many young adults are opting to go to state universities or not attend college and learn a trade. While that is great, we do need carpenters, electricians and plumbers, we also need to have the ability to think critically. That's what college brings to the table.

However with the decrease in enrollment due to the high price-tag, colleges - especially at the small schools - institutions are cutting back to save money. This restructuring of higher education has led to personnel action, changes in insurance policies and administrative practices.

I mentioned in the previous blog three struggling schools - one that closed last May, one that will be closing its doors in May of 2017 and one that was saved thanks to a generous donation. But the truth is there are more schools like these three schools.

In an article that came out in the New Hampshire Union Leader, it was reported that Colby-Sawyer College, a small liberal arts, Division III school 45 minutes outside Manchester, laid off 18 employees. It was confirmed by administrators that the lay-offs was part of a cost-cutting move to deal with a $2.6 million operating loss.

The College's President Sue Stuebner explained the reasoning to Valley News reporter Rob Wolfe of the Valley News that "these are not easy times and we're sorry to see some of colleagues go." Colby-Sawyer saw a 400-student drop in their enrollment, down to 1,100 from 1,500. But Colby-Sawyer is far from the only college experiencing this problem. The rest of the small, private colleges are all feeling the same effect.

The problem is tuition at tuition-driven schools is so high that students are opting for the less expensive option. Since we live in the northeast, where colleges and universities are plentiful, college-age students have other choices. If there is a similar school just 20 minutes away offering he same programs and opportunities for less money and more financial aid, they're going there.

It's simple. It's like you're out for a drive and you glance down at your dashboard and your gas-light comes on. There are two gas stations near you. One station, gas is $2.25 while the one across the way is $2.10, which one are you going to?

I'll leave it right for you all to think about.