The Board of Trustees met on July 15 to review preliminary findings from the Baker Tilly institutional review and set direction for what comes next.
Their dialogue centered on four critical areas identified in the report that the College must address in the coming years: Enrollment Strategy, Financial Sustainability and Revenue Diversification, Student Experience, and Organizational Readiness.
After thoughtful discussion, the Trustees determined four pathways to prioritize in the years ahead:
1. Rebuild the admitted student experience in key markets to bolster enrollment yield
2. Strengthen student retention and fundraising before pursuing new revenue streams
3. Elevate immersive learning and career outcomes, highlighting the Block Plan as a differentiator that facilitates post-graduate success
4. Build our data and analytics foundation to ground major decisions in reliable, consistent information
While none of the above represents a new direction, each priority creates additional clarity for our work, building on the commitments and efforts already identified in Claim Our Space and the cascading divisional strategic plans. Stabilizing enrollment and improving data governance are central to Institutional Strength. The Block Plan and a high-touch academic experience are at the heart of Reclaiming the Liberal Arts.
I will share Baker Tilly’s final report with the campus community in the coming weeks. As a reminder, we will gather as a community for Work of the College sessions on Sept. 1 and 3. This time together will be an opportunity to ask questions, share reactions, and hear from one another as we move into implementation.
Work of the College Series: Institutional Review Updates
