ABOUT THIS EPISODE
Closing down a college turns out to be a big job. For this episode, Jeff and Michael talk with a specialist on the complex and emotional process, Doug Moore. He shares all the things that college presidents and trustees should know—as well as surprising moments as he has helped colleges navigate finances, lawsuits, community impact, teach-outs, and more. And he explains why he sees signs of hundreds of college closures on the horizon.
Relevant Links“The Looming College-Enrollment Death Spiral,” by Jeff Selingo in The Atlantic.
“History auctioned as Iowa Wesleyan closes its doors,” in Homegrown Iowan.
Chapters0:00 - Intro
1:04 - The Surprising Complexity of Closing a College
3:00 - How a ‘College Closure’ Found that Profession
5:17 - How Do Colleges Find a Closer?
9:00 - Walking Through the Early Phases of Closing a Campus
14:53 - What Happens After the Final Graduation Ceremony?
18:55 - ‘Community Freebie Days’
22:33 - What’s The Most Surprising Thing a Closing Campus Had to Auction Off?
26:12 - Warning Signs That a College Might Fail
28:19 - Why College Sports Can Shutter Colleges
30:26 - 400 Colleges Could Fail in the Next 10 Years
32:11 - 20 or 30 Colleges Could Close This Year
33:18 - Why Don’t More Colleges Merge?
35:00 - Is Anyone Buying Closed Colleges?
38:33 - The Emotional Toll of Closing a College
42:06 - Sponsor Break
42:35 - Did Higher Ed Build Too Many Colleges?
49:28 - What Is Emotionally Lost When Colleges Disappear?
51:43 - What Will Happen to All These Closed Campus Facilities?
Connect with Michael Horn:Sign Up for the The Future of Education Newsletter
Connect with Jeff Selingo:Dream School: Finding the College That's Right for You
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