Transparent Conversations: Saving a Private Liberal Arts College from Closure

When mounting financial pressures and an institutional identity crisis threatened a private liberal arts college’s future, its leadership turned to CampusWorks to identify a sustainable path forward.

CampusWorks assembled an assessment team that resembled a President’s Cabinet in its expertise, bringing a broad perspective to the college’s challenges. The assessment team engaged key stakeholders across the institution to
co-create a shared vision for the future. Since community members typically experience some level of disruption and transition when an institution undergoes transformation, this type of broad-based engagement creates inclusion and
transparency. Giving community members a voice in the process and allowing them to see how decisions are made ensures greater ownership in carrying out the new vision.