Early this year, we at Optimal Campus began thinking about posting a series of blogs focused on what many perceived as a crisis in higher education.  Shifting demographics of potential students, rising costs, challenges to the value of higher education, and academic inertia placed higher education at a crossroads.  Many were arguing, and we agreed, that, without fundamental changes, the current system of higher education in the United States would be unable to survive.  And then COVID-19 happened!Continue Reading

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit the United States, most higher education institutions were well into their budgeting processes for the next academic year (2020-21). The pandemic, our collective responses to it so far, and the changes we will continue to make are causing institutions to step back and reassess their plans and budgets. In many cases, this means rolling back to the beginning of the process. COVID-19 has introduced two key uncertainties that will impact the budget—students and money. In the case of money, the key question is how much will there be? In the case of students, there are two questions: how many will there be, and will they be resident on campus or attending remotely?Continue Reading