This week Marshall Law School and University of Illinois Law School announce a merger. Valparaiso Law School announced that it was closing. Last week we read about other mergers and some closure speculations. Seems obvious now that more and more of this will happen as the higher education market place shrinks and tries to re-position itself in this "new" economy.
Might be interesting to see what public policy "nudges" the federal and state governments can put in place to encourage more re-arrangements and re-organizations in higher education. Seems the more we can do to make universities and colleges more financially secure, fiscally responsible and to increase degree completion percentages the better off we would all be.
Michigan has 13 public four year universities (plus Flint and Dearborn UM campuses), 29 community colleges and many, many non profit and for profit colleges and universities. They are all trying their best to serve the citizens of this state and to be innovative and financially responsible. Most of Michigan's four year public universities have constitutional protections to protect their independence and limit legislative/executive branch interference. Maybe a few "nudges" and/or incentives might encourage some innovations on how we can more effectively the cost of higher education and increase opportunity. Might show us some ideas to increase success for students and get more students enrolled and completing a degree.
What are some possible "nudges" that might assist in this effort?
What changes can we make in higher education public policy without having to amend the state constitution or spend years and years in court?
What can we do to increase board member effectiveness and governance quality?
What are some of the best practices in other states that we in Michigan (and other states) might learn from that have worked in these other states?
More later on some of these questions.