Latest news with #ChuckAmbrose
Forbes
04-08-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Facing Deficit, Southern Oregon University Declares Financial Exigency
Southern Oregon University is declaring financial exigency as it attempts to manage an ongoing budget deficit that less extreme measures have been unable to remedy. The declaration in contained in a provisional plan released last week by SOU President Rich Bailey, in which he acknowledges that a series of financial crises have left the public university in Ashland, Oregon in an unsustainable financial position. 'Ultimately, SOU needs to be a smaller university to work within a framework where revenues are always greater than expenses,' according to the proposal, which then challenges the institution to become 'a smaller, more resilient university—one that can withstand strong headwinds.' Bailey's plan would ultimately cut nearly $10.5 million in expenditures — about 15% of the university's budget — over the next few years, with the goal of converting SOU to a '$60 million university as opposed to our current $71 million university.' In order to achieve those reductions, the university will declare financial exigency, allowing it to follow a process for the termination of faculty. Declaring financial exigency is a last-ditch scenario colleges turn to when they are facing such imminent and severe financial circumstances that the survival of the institution as a whole is threatened. As Chuck Ambrose and I discuss in our recent book, Colleges on the Brink: The Case for Financial Exigency, even though colleges have usually been reluctant to declare exigency because of the campus turmoil and bad publicity that often follow, the strategy sometimes becomes necessary to manage intractable financial problems. Bailey apparently believes SOU has reached that point. Describing the plan at a campus meeting last week, he said, 'It's going to allow us to do the transformative things that we need to do as an institution,' he said. 'Let me be very clear. We're not closing. It's not bankruptcy. It's not even close to that, but it is the mechanism that allows for transformation.' SOU's financial difficulties stem from two primary sources, according to its president. First, its total headcount enrollment has declined from 6,215 in 2015 to 5,120 in 2024. And second, state appropriations for the upcoming biennium will not be sufficient to cover basic increases in personnel costs like retirement and medical benefits. A third factor that could worsen its outlook is cutbacks in federal support. The university had already attempted to control its expenditures through a process called "SOU FORWARD." Although that plan resulted in a reduction of approximately $13 million in recurring costs through the elimination of more than 80 positions, it still left the university with an academic and administrative infrastructure it could not afford. The new proposal, which is still subject to changes during the next month, contains the following cost-saving measures: In addition to those measures, Bailey recently took a voluntary 20% pay cut, which was approved by the SOU Board of Trustees. That decision occurred in an unusual context: the president of the union representing SOU service employees offered to take a 50% salary reduction, 'if the administration commits to a matching sacrifice.' During the past few years, higher education saw a burst of financial exigency and 'near exigency' measures as colleges and universities tried to survive the economic fallout from the Covid-19 pandemic. Most of those took place at private colleges, as opposed to public institutions like Southern Oregon. Now, with more financial challenges looming from several sources, including federal cutbacks and policy shifts, an impending decline in high school graduates and uncertain funding from the states, more public institutions may be at economic risk, increasing the likelihood of a new round of exigency declarations.
Japan Times
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Japan Times
Trump's Harvard foreign student attack threatens key college revenue
The Trump administration's latest blow against Harvard University — cutting off its ability to enroll foreign students — rippled throughout higher education Thursday, because it aims at a major source of revenue for hundreds of schools across the United States. Because international students are more likely to pay full tuition, they essentially subsidize other students who receive aid, said educational consultant Chuck Ambrose, former president of the University of Central Missouri. The administration's move to stop foreign enrollment is a huge blow to Harvard and sends a message to other universities: "You could be next,' said Robert Kelchen, a professor at the University of Tennessee who researches university finances. Kristi Noem, Trump's homeland security adviser, said as much Thursday during an appearance on "The Story with Martha MacCallum" on Fox News. Noem was asked if the administration was considering similar moves at other universities, including Columbia University in New York. "Absolutely, we are," she responded. "This should be a warning to every other university to get your act together." Harvard's 6,800 international students make up 27% of its total enrollment. In 2023, foreign students made up an even higher share at 43 other schools with at least 1,000 students, according to data from the National Center for Education Statistics. At Columbia University, which the Trump administration accuses of antisemitic policies, foreign students made up 39% of total enrollment in 2023, the NCES data shows. At 246 other schools with an enrollment of at least 1,000, at least 10% of students were from outside the U.S. Thursday's announcement comes as universities are already scrambling to make up for huge federal cuts in research funding. Harvard, which the Trump administration says has failed to address antisemitism and ethnic harassment on campus, has seen nearly $3 billion in federal contracts and research grants frozen or ended in recent weeks. Neither Harvard nor Columbia had comment on the financial impact of Thursday's move. "It's just another financial hit on top of several hits that have already come for big research universities,' Kelchen said. "At this point the only thing that hasn't been touched is student financial aid.'
Economic Times
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Economic Times
Trump's attack on Harvard's foreign students targets key revenue for US universities
Synopsis The Trump administration restricted Harvard University from enrolling foreign students. This action impacts university revenue across the US. International students often pay full tuition, subsidizing others. Other universities like Columbia University may face similar actions. Harvard already faces federal funding cuts. The administration accuses universities of failing to address antisemitism. Universities are facing financial challenges. The Trump administration's latest blow against Harvard University - cutting off its ability to enroll foreign students - rippled throughout higher education Thursday, because it aims at a major source of revenue for hundreds of schools across the United States. ADVERTISEMENT Because international students are more likely to pay full tuition, they essentially subsidize other students who receive aid, said educational consultant Chuck Ambrose, former president of the University of Central Missouri. The administration's move to stop foreign enrollment is a huge blow to Harvard and sends a message to other universities: "You could be next," said Robert Kelchen, a professor at the University of Tennessee who researches university finances. Also Read: Harvard's ability to enrol international students halted by Trump administration (Join our ETNRI WhatsApp channel for all the latest updates) Kristi Noem, Trump's homeland security adviser, said as much Thursday during an appearance on "The Story with Martha MacCallum" on Fox News. Noem was asked if the administration was considering similar moves at other universities, including Columbia University in New York. "Absolutely, we are," she responded. "This should be a warning to every other university to get your act together." Harvard's 6,800 international students make up 27% of its total enrollment. In 2023, foreign students made up an even higher share at 43 other schools with at least 1,000 students, according to data from the National Center for Education Statistics. ADVERTISEMENT At Columbia University, which the Trump administration accuses of antisemitic policies, foreign students made up 39% of total enrollment in 2023, the NCES data shows. At 246 other schools with an enrollment of at least 1,000, at least 10% of students were from outside the U.S. Also Read: US bans Harvard from admitting foreign students: What it means for nearly the 7,000 already on campus ADVERTISEMENT Thursday's announcement comes as universities are already scrambling to make up for huge federal cuts in research funding. Harvard, which t Trump administration says has failed to address antisemitism and ethnic harassment on campus, has seen nearly $3 billion in federal contracts and research grants frozen or ended in recent weeks. Neither Harvard nor Columbia had comment on the financial impact of Thursday's move. "It's just another financial hit on top of several hits that have already come for big research universities," Kelchen said. "At this point the only thing that hasn't been touched is student financial aid." ADVERTISEMENT Also Read: Trump's Harvard visa threat could wipe out several of the school's sports teams (Catch all the Business News, Breaking News, Budget 2024 Events and Latest News Updates on The Economic Times.) Subscribe to The Economic Times Prime and read the ET ePaper online. NEXT STORY
Time of India
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Trump's attack on Harvard's foreign students targets key revenue for US universities
The Trump administration's latest blow against Harvard University - cutting off its ability to enroll foreign students - rippled throughout higher education Thursday, because it aims at a major source of revenue for hundreds of schools across the United States. Because international students are more likely to pay full tuition, they essentially subsidize other students who receive aid, said educational consultant Chuck Ambrose, former president of the University of Central Missouri. The administration's move to stop foreign enrollment is a huge blow to Harvard and sends a message to other universities: "You could be next," said Robert Kelchen, a professor at the University of Tennessee who researches university finances. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 비염 꽉 막힌 코 "이것" 먹자마자 시원하게 뻥...! 비염케어 키리하나 더 알아보기 Undo Also Read: Harvard's ability to enrol international students halted by Trump administration (Join our ETNRI WhatsApp channel for all the latest updates) Kristi Noem, Trump's homeland security adviser, said as much Thursday during an appearance on "The Story with Martha MacCallum" on Fox News. Noem was asked if the administration was considering similar moves at other universities, including Columbia University in New York. "Absolutely, we are," she responded. "This should be a warning to every other university to get your act together." Live Events Harvard's 6,800 international students make up 27% of its total enrollment. In 2023, foreign students made up an even higher share at 43 other schools with at least 1,000 students, according to data from the National Center for Education Statistics. At Columbia University, which the Trump administration accuses of antisemitic policies, foreign students made up 39% of total enrollment in 2023, the NCES data shows. At 246 other schools with an enrollment of at least 1,000, at least 10% of students were from outside the U.S. Also Read: US bans Harvard from admitting foreign students: What it means for nearly the 7,000 already on campus Thursday's announcement comes as universities are already scrambling to make up for huge federal cuts in research funding. Harvard, which t Trump administration says has failed to address antisemitism and ethnic harassment on campus, has seen nearly $3 billion in federal contracts and research grants frozen or ended in recent weeks. Neither Harvard nor Columbia had comment on the financial impact of Thursday's move. "It's just another financial hit on top of several hits that have already come for big research universities," Kelchen said. "At this point the only thing that hasn't been touched is student financial aid." Also Read: Trump's Harvard visa threat could wipe out several of the school's sports teams
