This Week In College Viability (TWICV) for December 8, 2025
It is, of course, the holiday season. Sitting here in front of the Blue Yeti microphone, I have to wonder how many college leadership scrooges are out there. The Yeti microphone and I look at college finances constantly. It is almost certain, that even during this holiday season, there are colleges on the brink of announcing they cannot continue.
And on that happy note, 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.
This week:
+ Closures, cutbacks, and exigency requests
+ OSU to end 8 majors. Continuing the recent trend that colleges cannot be everything to everybody
+ 6-year grad rates – are they the standard now?
+ Dysfunctional U (aka University of Tulsa) is exposed in an excellent piece by Megan Zahneis [Zay-knees] Dec 2 in the Chronicle of HE
+ First come closures. Then come real-estate vultures.
+ 2 college employees (one faculty and one administrator) whine in social media. That happens all the time. These two just caught my attention.
+ And more . . .
Show notes and links:
University of Lynchburg offers faculty buyouts to address finances
Here’s what to know about Calvin University’s (MI) 12.5% faculty reduction, program cuts
University of Providence (MT) asks board to allow financial exigency
Ohio State likely to end eight majors, over 350 courses in Senate Bill 1 compliance
U.S. Six-Year College Graduation Rate Stays at 61%
The Ambition Trap How the U. of Tulsa chased enrollment and prestige — but chiefly grew its deficit instead.
The Opportunity in Bankrupt Colleges
LI POST Dr. Crystal E Garcia Associate Professor of Educational Administration at UN Lincoln
How about Whine story #2: Another LI post
Further Negative Projections for Higher Ed in 2026
Show notes and links:
University of Lynchburg offers faculty buyouts to address finances
Here’s what to know about Calvin University’s (MI) 12.5% faculty reduction, program cuts
University of Providence (MT) asks board to allow financial exigency
Ohio State likely to end eight majors, over 350 courses in Senate Bill 1 compliance
U.S. Six-Year College Graduation Rate Stays at 61%
The Ambition Trap How the U. of Tulsa chased enrollment and prestige — but chiefly grew its deficit instead.
The Opportunity in Bankrupt Colleges
LI POST Dr. Crystal E Garcia Associate Professor of Educational Administration at UN Lincoln
How about Whine story #2: Another LI post
Further Negative Projections for Higher Ed in 2026