Many institutions of higher education recognize the need to transform their educational and business models in ways that can help drive student success. One way to do this may be forming a partnership with one or more other institutions.
The Transformational Partnerships Fund (TPF) supports colleges and universities interested in exploring partnerships that could fundamentally improve how they operate and serve students — especially students of color, students from low-income families, and other underserved populations. TPF was established by ECMC Foundation, and SeaChange, with additional support from Ascendium Education Group, The Kresge Foundation, and the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation.
For many colleges and universities, today’s demographic, cultural, economic and public health challenges are daunting and unprecedented. Whether an institution is interested in exploring sharing administrative services, consolidating academic offerings, or even merging with another college or university, TPF provides confidential, philanthropic resources to help consider the full range of partnership options.
Financial Stability
Only 52% of U.S. college and university business officers are confident their institution will be financially stable over the next five years.
Return to Normal Operations
Only 25% of U.S. college and university business officers expect to be able to ride out the downturn and return to normal operations within in a year’s time.
Probability of Merger
More than 20% of college and university business officers think their institution should merge with another college or university within the next five years
Source: Inside Higher Ed/Gallup 2020 Survey of College and University Business Officers
Working with TPF, college and university leaders have the opportunity to access technical assistance, grant funding, specialized resources and more. TPF builds on the experience of its funders, managers and advisors, all of whom have deep experience and real-world knowledge in higher education and the creation of successful partnerships.
All discussions are held in strict confidence, and grant funding may be provided to support the exploration of partnerships in many forms — from shared administrative services or consolidated academic offerings on one end of the spectrum, to full mergers on the other.
12% of all students currently enrolled in a college or university are attending an institution that is at risk.
19% of all Black students currently enrolled in a college or university are attending an institution that is at risk.
That’s 340,000 students across the United States.
Institutional failure has a disproportionate impact on students of color and underserved populations.
Source: The College Stress Test: Tracking Institutional Futures across a Crowded Market; Robert Zemsky
On August 18, after several months of negotiations, the Board of Trustees at Trocaire College and Medaille University announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that sets in motion a cooperative agreement that would fulfill the missions of both institutions into the future. The announcement has been well received by local stakeholders as reflected in this editorial from the Buffalo News. The Transformational Partnerships Fund was pleased to have made a grant to support the exploratory discussions leading up to this announcement.
Saint Joseph’s University officially merged with the University of the Sciences, making the campuses — crosstown from one another in Philadelphia — one institution under the Saint Joseph’s name. For Saint Joseph’s, absorbing the robust suite of health care offerings at the University of the Sciences allows for an immediate expansion of academic programs, drawing on the expertise of faculty members already on campus. Higher ed observers expect more mergers to come particulary among smaller private institutions.
Collaboration was a a key theme of the “Ideation, Innovation & Collaboration: The Future of HBCUs” conference in Charlotte, NC., hosted by the Higher Education Leadership Foundation which brought together HBCU leaders and stakeholders to discuss a range of issues facing their schools. Consistently, each speaker underscored the notion that, by coming together, HBCUs can move the needle on their resources, research capacity, and serve even more students of color for decades to come.
Read more >“This is an extremely sad day for Marymount and for the legacy and traditions lost, both for our campus…
To inquire about a grant or discuss the specifics of your situation, click here. For general information, contact us via the form below, or call (844) 869-7842 ext. 1.
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