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 from low-income families, first-generation college students, and other underserved populations. TPF was established as a charitable initiative by SeaChange Capital Partners (a nonprofit) in 2021. Since its inception, the Fund has made 35 grants involving more than 70 institutions. A recent third-party formative evaluation suggests that it has been important to the institutions with which it has engaged.
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. 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 underserved populations.
Source: The College Stress Test: Tracking Institutional Futures across a Crowded Market; Robert Zemsky
Students can suffer unnecessary harm without caring and support during a closure or a merger. But what do they…
In the March 30 Chronicle of Higher Education, Rick Seltzer reviewed the recent third-party evaluation of the Transformational Partnerships Fund — (Daily Briefing: Did free money smooth college mergers?). The evaluation (SUPPORTING PARTNERSHIPS FOR STUDENT SUCCESS AND INSTITUTIONAL VIABILITY) was based on interviews with 25 senior leaders representing 15 partnerships. Interviews focused on the TPF application process; experiences with the fund; partnership challenges, outcomes, advice, satisfaction; and suggestions for improvement. We hope the learnings from the evaluation prove helpful to institutional leaders interested in exploring partnerships.
On April 10 at 2 pm, the Transformational Partnerships Fund is presenting a webinar on Caring for Students During Megers and Closures. The webinar will be moderated by Doug Lederman, Co-founder and Former Editor of Inside Higher Ed, and will feature five leaders with real-world experience discussing the various strategies they used to support students during these transactions. Students have the most to gain – or lose – if partnership discussions are handled well or badly so please join us for this important topic. Registration is free and confidential. More information can be found here.
Read more >
Presidents of the University of Findlay and Bluffton University, located 20 miles apart in Northwest Ohio, announced plans to merge on Wednesday. More details are available on a new joint website (www.FindlayBlufftonFuture.com) that addresses many of the frequently asked questions. The Transformational Partnerships Fund has been very impressed by the thoughtful approach that the leaders from both institutions took during the exploratory process and we were pleased to have provided a grant to help support the associated costs. The announcement received extensive press coverage including this article in Inside Higher Ed.
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 >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.