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. Since its inception in April 2021, the Fund has made 18 grants involving 49 institutions.
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
At a time when mergers might help more institutions survive, new rules from the Education Department—aimed at protecting students and taxpayers—might result in more college closures instead. At a minimum, it will increase the time (and money) required to complete transactions with the corresponding need for institutions to give themselves plenty of time.
Read more >Since launching in 2021, TPF has engaged more than 200 institutions in some capacity and has made 22 grants…
For most colleges and universities, closure is a last resort. But as enrollment and financial pressures intensify, more institutions…
As the wave of closures of small liberal arts colleges continues, merging with a larger institution is increasingly seen as an attractive alternative. Some believe that a merged institution will preserve much of what is good of the smaller institution, while others are not so sure.
Read more >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.
If you’d like to receive communications about higher education partnerships, please fill out the form below.