So, I have been reading and talking to folks about the impending merger (closure) of Marlboro College with Emerson. Read recent article in Boston Globe. All this brought me to realize a strategy that would have worked for Southern Vermont College and some other colleges in distress. The idea: right size them. Could write more but for now: With impending and evident enrollment declines, shrink the spending side to match enrollment until new enrollment approaches are in place. Yes. Downsize in the near term. That would cost some jobs within faculty and staff. At SVC, I would have torn down old dorms which would cut costs and staffing. I would have doubled up in new dorm on two floors and rented space for overflow. I would have had a lean mean administrative team. (Another leader bloated it for several years with outsized salaries.) Right sizing is hard but smart. Look at Sterling College. If past growth isn’t sustainable, adjust and fast. Don’t bleed to death or ask trustees for repeated end of year shortfall bailouts. Goodness knows, Higher Ed needs to get smarter. Right sizing is smart and doable. Otherwise, hearts will be broken with unnecessary closures. …see more