LeTourneau was thinking of adding football, but their inaction may have cost that conference some members.

The four football schools could go to the Lone Star in D2, and LeTourneau could find a home in D3.

(02-26-2024 11:16 PM)DavidSt Wrote:  LeTourneau was thinking of adding football, but their inaction may have cost that conference some members.

The four football schools could go to the Lone Star in D2, and LeTourneau could find a home in D3.

We took one of our sons to visit LeTourneau. It's unique in that unlike most small Christian colleges, it is focused on STEM (engineering, computer science, etc.) rather than liberal arts. Therefore, unlike at most schools, males outnumber females. Thus, there's not the need to add football to attract male students like there is at other schools. Still, football would have been a good addition for them.

If the other four schools found athletic scholarship money, D2 would be an easy lift, and the Lone Star would be glad to have them. They would have to find D2 levels of scholarship money for both men's and women's athletics. They've built their programs as they are around the D3 model (no athletic scholarships).

(02-27-2024 11:01 AM)johnintx Wrote:  

(02-26-2024 11:16 PM)DavidSt Wrote:  LeTourneau was thinking of adding football, but their inaction may have cost that conference some members.

The four football schools could go to the Lone Star in D2, and LeTourneau could find a home in D3.

We took one of our sons to visit LeTourneau. It's unique in that unlike most small Christian colleges, it is focused on STEM (engineering, computer science, etc.) rather than liberal arts. Therefore, unlike at most schools, males outnumber females. Thus, there's not the need to add football to attract male students like there is at other schools. Still, football would have been a good addition for them.

If the other four schools found athletic scholarship money, D2 would be an easy lift, and the Lone Star would be glad to have them. They would have to find D2 levels of scholarship money for both men's and women's athletics. They've built their programs as they are around the D3 model (no athletic scholarships).

Greg Sankey started college at LeTourneau. He decided he wasn't going to be an engineer and returned home to New York state, where he went to junior college then Cortland State. He needed to an internship and found an ad in NCAA News for Northwestern State (LA). He had a great aunt in Natchitoches. In his role at Northwestern State he got to know the assistant commisioner of the Southland Conference, Britton Banowsky. When Banowsky moved to the Southwest Conference, Sankey replaced him at the Southland Conference. Sankey later became commissioner of the Southland Conference, then moved on to the SEC where he eventually became commissioner.

Banowsky became assistant commissioner of the Big 12, before becoming commissioner of CUSA, replacing Mike Slive who was becoming commissioner of the SEC. Banowsky brought Judy McLeod on as assistant commissioner of CUSA. When he left for the CFP, McLeod became commissioner.

(02-27-2024 03:57 PM)jimrtex Wrote:  

(02-27-2024 11:01 AM)johnintx Wrote:  

(02-26-2024 11:16 PM)DavidSt Wrote:  LeTourneau was thinking of adding football, but their inaction may have cost that conference some members.

The four football schools could go to the Lone Star in D2, and LeTourneau could find a home in D3.

We took one of our sons to visit LeTourneau. It's unique in that unlike most small Christian colleges, it is focused on STEM (engineering, computer science, etc.) rather than liberal arts. Therefore, unlike at most schools, males outnumber females. Thus, there's not the need to add football to attract male students like there is at other schools. Still, football would have been a good addition for them.

If the other four schools found athletic scholarship money, D2 would be an easy lift, and the Lone Star would be glad to have them. They would have to find D2 levels of scholarship money for both men's and women's athletics. They've built their programs as they are around the D3 model (no athletic scholarships).

Greg Sankey started college at LeTourneau. He decided he wasn't going to be an engineer and returned home to New York state, where he went to junior college then Cortland State. He needed to an internship and found an ad in NCAA News for Northwestern State (LA). He had a great aunt in Natchitoches. In his role at Northwestern State he got to know the assistant commisioner of the Southland Conference, Britton Banowsky. When Banowsky moved to the Southwest Conference, Sankey replaced him at the Southland Conference. Sankey later became commissioner of the Southland Conference, then moved on to the SEC where he eventually became commissioner.

Banowsky became assistant commissioner of the Big 12, before becoming commissioner of CUSA, replacing Mike Slive who was becoming commissioner of the SEC. Banowsky brought Judy McLeod on as assistant commissioner of CUSA. When he left for the CFP, McLeod became commissioner.

These circles are really small. Six degrees of Kevin Bacon.

Britton Banowsky is the son of William Banowsky, former president of Pepperdine and the University of Oklahoma.

When they say “something has to give,” it’s currently giving in Ohio. With Notre Dame College and Lake Erie each on the verge of closing, and Eastern Gateway Community College is pausing admissions while it tries to recover from a financial mess and financial aid issues they have with the federal government (note, it’s more unusual for public colleges to “pause admissions” as if they are not sure if they will reopen).

Wright State is dropping 34 degree programs, which is a very large amount IMO. However, most of these programs have fairly low enrollments. Their enrollment has gone down from just under 17,000 in 2012 to 9,600 in 2022.

Toledo announced suspension or elimination of 48 degrees for 2024, also, as is typical, these programs enroll relatively few students.

Marietta College, a small private college, announced plans to lay off almost 50 employees as part of cutbacks announced this year, along with 10 degrees. Enrollment there has been steady in recent years, but is down by over 25% since 2012.

I’m sure there are plenty of examples in other states as well, but it seems like Ohio has made the news a lot lately.

Edit: Found this article after I posted. It lists even more cutbacks, some of which id heard about and forgot, others I hadn’t heard of. It’s big issue statewide. Something is giving alright.

https://www.statenews.org/news/2024-02-2...s-the-deal

Ohio probably has too many colleges for it's upcoming high school graduates.

The challenge for these universities is to make sure there are opportunities in the state for these majors.

Does it make sense for every public university to have Social Work with 10-20 students each? Probably not.

But it would make sense for 5 of them to have departments of 100 students each.

(02-28-2024 07:44 AM)dbackjon Wrote:  Ohio probably has too many colleges for it's upcoming high school graduates.

The challenge for these universities is to make sure there are opportunities in the state for these majors.

Does it make sense for every public university to have Social Work with 10-20 students each? Probably not.

But it would make sense for 5 of them to have departments of 100 students each.

Ohio have too many private schools as well. A lot of them are closing down in recent years in that state. Could Cleveland State, Toledo, Kent State, Wright State, etc buy out and merge the private schools to have those students to continue their education in that state which would actually boast their enrollment up? Yes. The more of these failing private schools either be bought out and merge with the public schools or close down? Students will have less choices to go to, and would go to the public schools which could actually get them to gain students.

(02-28-2024 11:24 AM)DavidSt Wrote:  

(02-28-2024 07:44 AM)dbackjon Wrote:  Ohio probably has too many colleges for it's upcoming high school graduates.

The challenge for these universities is to make sure there are opportunities in the state for these majors.

Does it make sense for every public university to have Social Work with 10-20 students each? Probably not.

But it would make sense for 5 of them to have departments of 100 students each.

Ohio have too many private schools as well. A lot of them are closing down in recent years in that state. Could Cleveland State, Toledo, Kent State, Wright State, etc buy out and merge the private schools to have those students to continue their education in that state which would actually boast their enrollment up? Yes. The more of these failing private schools either be bought out and merge with the public schools or close down? Students will have less choices to go to, and would go to the public schools which could actually get them to gain students.

What gain would they have in buying them out? Unless they need the land/buildings, a failing college has ZERO value.

(02-28-2024 11:58 AM)dbackjon Wrote:  

(02-28-2024 11:24 AM)DavidSt Wrote:  

(02-28-2024 07:44 AM)dbackjon Wrote:  Ohio probably has too many colleges for it's upcoming high school graduates.

The challenge for these universities is to make sure there are opportunities in the state for these majors.

Does it make sense for every public university to have Social Work with 10-20 students each? Probably not.

But it would make sense for 5 of them to have departments of 100 students each.

Ohio have too many private schools as well. A lot of them are closing down in recent years in that state. Could Cleveland State, Toledo, Kent State, Wright State, etc buy out and merge the private schools to have those students to continue their education in that state which would actually boast their enrollment up? Yes. The more of these failing private schools either be bought out and merge with the public schools or close down? Students will have less choices to go to, and would go to the public schools which could actually get them to gain students.

What gain would they have in buying them out? Unless they need the land/buildings, a failing college has ZERO value.

The land is valuable and could be used for education purposes, and they could sell the sports facilities off as well.

(02-28-2024 12:12 PM)DavidSt Wrote:  

(02-28-2024 11:58 AM)dbackjon Wrote:  

(02-28-2024 11:24 AM)DavidSt Wrote:  

(02-28-2024 07:44 AM)dbackjon Wrote:  Ohio probably has too many colleges for it's upcoming high school graduates.

The challenge for these universities is to make sure there are opportunities in the state for these majors.

Does it make sense for every public university to have Social Work with 10-20 students each? Probably not.

But it would make sense for 5 of them to have departments of 100 students each.

Ohio have too many private schools as well. A lot of them are closing down in recent years in that state. Could Cleveland State, Toledo, Kent State, Wright State, etc buy out and merge the private schools to have those students to continue their education in that state which would actually boast their enrollment up? Yes. The more of these failing private schools either be bought out and merge with the public schools or close down? Students will have less choices to go to, and would go to the public schools which could actually get them to gain students.

What gain would they have in buying them out? Unless they need the land/buildings, a failing college has ZERO value.

The land is valuable and could be used for education purposes, and they could sell the sports facilities off as well.

So you want them to buy the land, just to sell it. Makes zero sense for a cash strapped State University to dabble in real estate speculation.

(02-28-2024 12:27 PM)dbackjon Wrote:  

(02-28-2024 12:12 PM)DavidSt Wrote:  

(02-28-2024 11:58 AM)dbackjon Wrote:  

(02-28-2024 11:24 AM)DavidSt Wrote:  

(02-28-2024 07:44 AM)dbackjon Wrote:  Ohio probably has too many colleges for it's upcoming high school graduates.

The challenge for these universities is to make sure there are opportunities in the state for these majors.

Does it make sense for every public university to have Social Work with 10-20 students each? Probably not.

But it would make sense for 5 of them to have departments of 100 students each.

Ohio have too many private schools as well. A lot of them are closing down in recent years in that state. Could Cleveland State, Toledo, Kent State, Wright State, etc buy out and merge the private schools to have those students to continue their education in that state which would actually boast their enrollment up? Yes. The more of these failing private schools either be bought out and merge with the public schools or close down? Students will have less choices to go to, and would go to the public schools which could actually get them to gain students.

What gain would they have in buying them out? Unless they need the land/buildings, a failing college has ZERO value.

The land is valuable and could be used for education purposes, and they could sell the sports facilities off as well.

So you want them to buy the land, just to sell it. Makes zero sense for a cash strapped State University to dabble in real estate speculation.

They don't need the sports facilities do they? Or they could rent them out for tournaments for high school.

(02-28-2024 01:22 PM)DavidSt Wrote:  

(02-28-2024 12:27 PM)dbackjon Wrote:  

(02-28-2024 12:12 PM)DavidSt Wrote:  

(02-28-2024 11:58 AM)dbackjon Wrote:  

(02-28-2024 11:24 AM)DavidSt Wrote:  Ohio have too many private schools as well. A lot of them are closing down in recent years in that state. Could Cleveland State, Toledo, Kent State, Wright State, etc buy out and merge the private schools to have those students to continue their education in that state which would actually boast their enrollment up? Yes. The more of these failing private schools either be bought out and merge with the public schools or close down? Students will have less choices to go to, and would go to the public schools which could actually get them to gain students.

What gain would they have in buying them out? Unless they need the land/buildings, a failing college has ZERO value.

The land is valuable and could be used for education purposes, and they could sell the sports facilities off as well.

So you want them to buy the land, just to sell it. Makes zero sense for a cash strapped State University to dabble in real estate speculation.

They don't need the sports facilities do they? Or they could rent them out for tournaments for high school.

Again, why would a State University that is not next door want to do that?

Absolutely no reason to.

(02-28-2024 07:44 AM)dbackjon Wrote:  Ohio probably has too many colleges for it's upcoming high school graduates.

The challenge for these universities is to make sure there are opportunities in the state for these majors.

Does it make sense for every public university to have Social Work with 10-20 students each? Probably not.

But it would make sense for 5 of them to have departments of 100 students each.

What’s funny is, other than community colleges, most states actually had large numbers of colleges even a hundred years ago, both state and private. But the capital and income required to teach students then was much lower so many of them survived and thrived. And that was in a time when very few people went to college.

Yet now, with a significant part of the population going to college, the bar has been set so high, schools are actually struggling more even though their incomes are much higher than anything a school could have dreamed of in the distant past.

But once a school (particularly private schools) get themselves into big debt, their margin for error gets very small. Competing for students is driving all schools to the brink. And it’s merely the slight downturn of graduating seniors in, say, Ohio right now, but the fundamental business model is based on very high expenses. And it’s largely fueled student by loans.

So for some of these schools that merge with others, or ones that outright cease to exist, how is this going to impact alumni?

Think if you're putting in for a job somewhere, you list your degree, and a quick Google search by an HR person says that this school doesn't exist, or it folded up years ago. For a lot of older folks at or near the end of their careers or that might have other education to pad their resume, that might not be a problem.

Younger folks though, 20s and early 30s who are still young in their careers, suddenly having your university or college essentially shut down would not look good. HR or hiring managers at nearby companies that are aware of circumstances might not make an issue of it or be understanding, or in some cases might be in the same boat even. You move across country to Nevada or Texas or somewhere a thousand miles away, that could set off more then a few red flags.I could see a lot of people either being passed up for jobs or not even being offered the courtesy of an interview if some corporate HR office drone thinks a person either lied on their resume, or used a diploma mill to get a degree.

I once read an article about a college that went out of business. Some guy bought the defunct school’s intellectual property and thus owned the rights to the name, logo, etc. He then started selling fake degrees to people.

Like most shady schemes, it went well until he got caught.

Bay Path University and Cambridge College, both in Massachusetts, are merging. Bay Path appears to be the stronger partner, as Cambridge College enrollment fallen by over 30% in the last few years. Both schools have multiple branches around Massachusetts, and Cambridge also has campuses in Southern California and Puerto Rico. Both schools are very adult Ed focused, but Bay Path also had a strong undergrad campus based program.

Bay Path is a women’s college at the undergrad, campus based level, with men in adult and graduate programs. Bay Path was formerly in the NCAA D3, but left a few years ago for the USCAA. Cambridge doesn’t offer athletics.

https://www.highereddive.com/news/bay-pa...on/708835/

NAIA Southwestern Assemblies of God University in Waxahachie, TX is changing its name to Nelson University. No affiliation change, just a name change.

https://nelson.sagu.edu/

(03-01-2024 05:42 PM)johnintx Wrote:  NAIA Southwestern Assemblies of God University in Waxahachie, TX is changing its name to Nelson University. No affiliation change, just a name change.

https://nelson.sagu.edu/

Dang, we can't call it SWAG anymore.

(03-01-2024 08:01 PM)DavidSt Wrote:  

(03-01-2024 05:42 PM)johnintx Wrote:  NAIA Southwestern Assemblies of God University in Waxahachie, TX is changing its name to Nelson University. No affiliation change, just a name change.

https://nelson.sagu.edu/

Dang, we can't call it SWAG anymore.

They went by SAGU.

(03-01-2024 08:03 PM)teamvsn Wrote:  

(03-01-2024 08:01 PM)DavidSt Wrote:  

(03-01-2024 05:42 PM)johnintx Wrote:  NAIA Southwestern Assemblies of God University in Waxahachie, TX is changing its name to Nelson University. No affiliation change, just a name change.

https://nelson.sagu.edu/

Dang, we can't call it SWAG anymore.

They went by SAGU.

It is the name my mom named them when she saw the scores. She write scores down, and she used SWAG. It is in my mother's memory that we call the school that.