This Week In College Viability (TWICV)

This Week In College Viability (TWICV) for Memorial Day 2026

While I published a podcast episode today, the day is in honor of those who gave their last full measure of devotion in service to you, me and this country. As the higher education industry struggles through enormous challenges, let us never forget those whose struggles end their life on this earth. Show notes and links. Baldwin Wallace Announces Another Round of Program and Budget Cuts [https://www.clevescene.com/news/baldwin-wallace-announces-another-round-of-program-and-budget-cuts/] Simpson College cuts sports programs to address budget deficit [https://www.kcci.com/article/simpson-college-budget-deficit-cuts-swimming-shooting-sports/71366168] Boulder’s Naropa University (CO) announces significant faculty layoffs amid budget crisis [https://www.dailycamera.com/2026/05/21/naropa-boulder-layoff-faculty-budget/] Cleveland State projects tuition revenue shortfall as Kent State adopts smaller budget [https://www.crainscleveland.com/education/ccl-csu-kent-tuition-20260521/] University of Oregon faces $65M budget gap as out of state enrollment drops [https://www.kezi.com/news/local/university-of-oregon-faces-65m-budget-gap-as-out-of-state-enrollment-drops/article_23a4c4f7-ce25-42cd-8248-fbf65047202d.html] Budget Deficits Threaten More Flagship Universities [https://www.forbes.com/sites/michaeltnietzel/2026/05/19/budget-deficits-threaten-more-flagship-universities/] College Viability Inspection Report for Bethany College (WV) [https://inspection.mycollegeviability.com/colleges/bethany-college-wv/] Financial Report Card: The Weakest And Strongest Private Colleges In America [https://www.forbes.com/sites/schifrin/2026/05/22/financial-report-card-the-weakest-and-strongest-private-colleges-in-america/] The Crisis in College Accreditation and Why It Matters [https://www.nea.org/nea-today/all-news-articles/crisis-college-accreditation-and-why-it-matters] Get access to the College Viability Inspection Report [https://www.mycollegeviability.com/] Get access to the 2026 College Majors Completion App [https://collegeviability.com/products/ols/products/2026-college-majors-completion-app-for-academic-leaders]

This Week In College Viability (TWICV) for May 18, 2026

Welcome to podcast number 200! If you follow the podcasting world, you are aware that almost all podcast efforts never get to a 10 episode.  I know why.  It ain’t easy to put together 20-30 minutes of interesting and entertaining content every week.  Luckily, I stumbled on Google Alerts when I started the show – and of course thanks to those many, many colleges who post content worthy of use on the show. I am at the point now, where I reject more content for the show than I use.  I have developed my own internal judgement for what content is worthy for my listeners.   So with that, this week we have:  + Colorado cuts state aid to private college students.  Very strange. + “pretty despicable’ is a student description of Hampshire College. + Some New Hampshire spin on enrollment + South Carolina doesn’t have any calculators that work.  They need an emergency $25M. + Wrap:  Moving the podcast toward more student and family content.  I will tell you why. Show notes and links: Newly released:  The College Viability Inspection Report.  Available here [https://www.mycollegeviability.com/]. Portland State to cut two legacy programs, lay off 52 staffers in budget balancing effort [https://www.opb.org/article/2026/05/14/psu-cut-legacy-programs-layoff/] Declining enrollment is driving a $12 million budget deficit at the University of Vermont [https://vtdigger.org/2026/05/13/declining-enrollment-is-driving-a-12-million-budget-deficit-at-the-university-of-vermont/] OCU to stay open for now, employees still waiting to be paid  (Oakland City University) [https://www.14news.com/2026/05/13/ocu-stay-open-now-employees-still-waiting-be-paid/] Colorado lawmakers pass bill to cut state financial aid for students at private universities [https://www.9news.com/article/news/education/colorado-bill-cuts-state-financial-aid-for-private-university-students/73-fa7c0936-d21b-4b69-a207-2812fa00531e] ‘An urgent operational reality’: Southern Oregon University faces looming cash shortfall [https://www.highereddive.com/news/southern-oregon-university-cash-shortfall/811425/] ‘Pretty despicable’: Hampshire College closure leaves students and parents scrambling to figure out next steps [https://www.bostonglobe.com/2026/05/15/metro/hampshire-college-students-financial-%E2%80%9Caid/] Bucking national projections, some N.H. colleges are reporting strong fall 2026 enrollment figures [https://www.concordmonitor.com/2026/05/13/new-hampshire-college-enrollment-trends/] SC higher ed agency needs $25M more to pay for scholarships already awarded [https://www.golaurens.com/news/sc-higher-ed-agency-needs-25m-more-to-pay-for-scholarships-already-awarded/article_d4d80590-af7e-4950-ae69-17ea538aec20.html]

This Week In College Viability (TWICV) for May 11, 2026

This is the 199th podcast episode of This Week in College Viability. Here are the top stories and commentary for this week. + Are higher education podcasters moving the needle. + Playing taps at Dallas Baptist University + Accreditors form leadership roundtable to figure things out + Cutting majors, majors, and more majors. Which ones survive? + The Hampshire ‘train wreck’ that didn’t have to happen + Stocker quote: “Hope is a subset of delusion.” Show notes and links: Dallas Baptist University plays Taps at 7:00 p.m. for each home game. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RJ6YYrmw-qA%20] UTA (Arlington) to cut, merge some academic programs to 'maintain fiscal responsibility' [https://www.dallasnews.com/news/education/article/ut-arlington-cut-consolidate-academic-programs-22249052.php%20] Bowie State University (MD) to Eliminate 79 Positions Amid $18 Million Budget Shortfall [https://www.citybiz.co/article/843890/bowie-state-university-to-eliminate-79-positions-amid-18-million-budget-shortfall/%20] Ryan Hofer's  Substack Debt by Natural Causes   Cost v. Income report [https://substack.com/inbox/post/196952929%20] Statement from the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) [https://wearecollegetennis.com/2026/05/07/statement-from-the-ita-state-of-college-athletics/%20] Council for Higher Education Accreditation announced they are forming an "Accreditor Leadership Roundtable." [https://www.linkedin.com/posts/eric-kelderman-333b371_chea-launches-accreditor-leadership-roundtable-activity-7457484780776001536-YVLy?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAAFHIQYBLBXvT3qc30FJN45lMy3dvs04f2Q] ‘A train wreck’: Hampshire faculty, staff left with no jobs, no severance as college prepares for closure [https://www.bostonglobe.com/2026/05/07/metro/hampshire-college-employees-closure/%20] 2026 College Majors Completion app for Academic Leaders  ($199) [https://collegeviability.com/products/ols/products/2026-college-majors-completion-app-for-academic-leaders]

This Week In College Viability (TWICV) for May 4, 2026

This week’s show starts somewhere you wouldn’t expect a college viability conversation to begin… a softball field. A routine game. A swarm of honeybees. And a moment that turned into one of those unforgettable college experiences that gets shared, liked, and remembered. Here’s the clip from Lindenwood University softball—and at first glance, it’s everything families think college is supposed to be. (https://x.com/lindenwoodsb/status/2050360836225482921?s=58&t=RRp3EfLfsCOV4T1DFy_2zw [https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__x.com_lindenwoodsb_status_2050360836225482921-3Fs-3D58-26t-3DRRp3EfLfsCOV4T1DFy-5F2zw&d=DwMCaQ&c=euGZstcaTDllvimEN8b7jXrwqOf-v5A_CdpgnVfiiMM&r=V-Nt3zZ5OV1RjmlFjqaxb3ywdGW9_0nTeHWJ-9L9Omo&m=Xzu4hAfbNiv0pWgE-D6h895VsBciovck_X9Np70evFyz7_sJATweSOPE0psHbvil&s=sIp8fqDUA636bsNuQ5OFXuu7ItyF5IsMvHmZ1WAgFG8&e=]) Fun. Memorable. A little unpredictable. But as we move from that moment into the rest of this week’s stories, the tone shifts. Because while everyone can see the honeybees on the field,  almost no one sees the financial pressures behind the scenes. This week, we’re digging into: * Saint Augustine’s University declaring bankruptcy—but insisting it won’t close  * Hampshire College looking to sell land to cover a $25 million debt  *  A looming 32% drop in high school graduates in Illinois—while lawmakers still push for more funding  *  A “shot-in-the-dark” strategy unfolding at Naropa University *  And a blunt critique from inside Hampshire: Cowardice and the Closing of Hampshire College Show Notes and links: UNT approves buyouts for professors, faculty as it tackles budget shortfalls [https://www.texastribune.org/2026/05/01/university-of-north-texas-approves-buyouts/] Saint Augustine’s Declares Bankruptcy but Won’t Close [https://www.insidehighered.com/news/business/financial-health/2026/04/28/saint-augustines-declares-bankruptcy-wont-close] Hampshire College to sell campus, land to pay $25 million debt [https://www.westernmassnews.com/2026/04/30/hampshire-college-sell-campus-land-pay-25-million-debt/] Illinois’ number of high school grads to plunge 32%. Lawmakers still want more college money. [https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/missouri-t-applications-drop-due-170000785.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAAWgwYKukMqToUgEZuZtd_BixiNuQAaCHyK1a5Vu99hwgd9aQzMICOoH9m6LYkv5rhxsrC3zlCP4J65Ik1Iwrn9Yz7Ab-GxsM7T18W_zaXcTuAqoaL1wTBGkqKnQ0gHeEimimC7uYR5ervcLmVN3djcwX5cdyWn-dQ94tQ3KIVM_] Missouri S&T applications drop due to AI, international shifts Confusing financial aid offers can leave families deeper in debt. Student groups say a new fix doesn’t go far enough [https://hechingerreport.org/confusing-financial-aid-offers-can-leave-families-deeper-in-debt-a-fix-is-stalled-in-congress/] Deloitte just dropped its 2026 Higher Education Trends report [https://www.deloitte.com/us/en/insights/industry/articles-on-higher-education/2026-higher-education-trends.html] Boulder’s Naropa University to reduce tuition to attract enrollment growth [https://www.dailycamera.com/2026/04/29/boulder-naropa-tuition-reduction-enrollment/] Cowardice and the Closing of Hampshire College [https://www.chronicle.com/article/cowardice-and-the-closing-of-hampshire-college] Wanna Bee Best Friends (X video)

This Week In College Viability (TWICV) for April 27, 2026

This week’s news and commentary include: + We have a 2nd college closure announcement in Mass. + More cuts for majors and programs.  The list gets longer each week.  There are few better signs of an industry in contraction than this. + Students at a closed college (Martin University) sue the leadership. + Sports programs at the big-brand name colleges continue to be sliced away. + And much more. This is the podcast that talks about the financial health and viability of public and private colleges with data, details and perspectives offered nowhere else. Show notes: Get the College Viability Transparency tool. [https://www.mycollegeviability.com/] Get the 2026 College Majors Completion App for students and families. [https://collegeviability.com/products/ols/products/2026-college-majors-completion-app---student-and-family-version] Anna Maria College (MASS) announces abrupt closure, citing financial and enrollment woes [https://www.masslive.com/education/2026/04/central-mass-college-announces-abrupt-closure-citing-financial-and-enrollment-woes.html%20] Accepted and enrolled students say they were blindsided by Anna Maria College closing in Paxton, Massachusetts [https://www.cbsnews.com/boston/news/anna-maria-college-paxton-closing-students-blindsided/%20] Iowa regents approve 10 program cuts at 2 universities [https://www.highereddive.com/news/iowa-regents-approve-10-program-cuts-at-2-universities/818384/] State universities (Iowa) gain initial approval to eliminate low-enrollment programs [https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/2026/04/22/state-universities-gain-initial-approval-to-eliminate-low-enrollment-programs/%20] Michigan State, University of Michigan face over 60% cut under state funding bill [https://www.highereddive.com/news/michigan-state-university-of-michigan-face-over-60-cut-under-state-fundin/818270/?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Issue:%202026-04-23%20Higher%20Ed%20Dive%20%5Bissue:84167%5D&utm_term=Higher%20Ed%20Dive%20] Students, Staff, Alumni Sue Martin (University) Over Closure [https://www.insidehighered.com/news/governance/trustees-regents/2026/04/27/students-staff-alumni-sue-martin-over-closure%20] Temple has lost average of $200 million annually as enrollment slides, and retention rates are a major issue, internal report says [https://hanfordsentinel.com/news/national/temple-has-lost-average-of-200-million-annually-as-enrollment-slides-and-retention-rates-are/article_dfccade0-51fe-552a-a840-24832e8817ad.html%20] Arkansas to drop men's and women's tennis for financial reasons [https://www.espn.com/tennis/story/_/id/48582346/arkansas-drop-men-women-tennis-financial-reasons%20] Students ‘devastated' as Hampshire College becomes latest small school to close [https://www.bing.com/ck/a?!&&p=44ede42a11c6c8daea167b6c0f81a5976661b10262ec416446eef2b81b3dcc27JmltdHM9MTc3NzI0ODAwMA&ptn=3&ver=2&hsh=4&fclid=1689193f-6030-6913-16a1-0a08614e68e6&psq=Students+%e2%80%98devastated%27+as+Hampshire+College+becomes+latest+small+school+to+close&u=a1aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubXNuLmNvbS9lbi11cy9tb25leS9jYXJlZXJzYW5kZWR1Y2F0aW9uL3N0dWRlbnRzLWRldmFzdGF0ZWQtYXMtaGFtcHNoaXJlLWNvbGxlZ2UtYmVjb21lcy1sYXRlc3Qtc21hbGwtc2Nob29sLXRvLWNsb3NlL2FyLUFBMjFxa2xm] Flag Football Teams Are a New Pitch for Small Colleges to Lure Students [https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2026-04-23/flag-football-gains-ground-as-us-colleges-launch-new-programs-for-women?] Drexel’s new president must tackle a deficit and declining enrollment. He sees it as a ‘moment of reinvention.’ [https://www.inquirer.com/education/drexel-university-president-antonio-merlo-inauguration-20260416.html%20] The college crisis that Ohio leaders and governor candidates are too scared of to solve [https://www.cleveland.com/news/2026/04/the-college-crisis-that-ohio-leaders-and-governor-candidates-are-too-scared-of-to-solve.html%20]