Financial challenges and demographic shifts are making mergers increasingly necessary for higher education institutions. Yet, colleges and universities are not designed for the M&A process.
In this episode of the FutureU Podcast, hosts Michael Horn and Jeff Selingo speak with Jane Wood, president of Bluffton University, and Kathy Fell, president of the University of Findlay, about their institutions’ merger efforts. Later, they are joined by Ricardo Azziz, author of Strategic Mergers in Higher Education, who offers insights from his experience in the field.
Merging institutions face numerous obstacles, from finding the right partner and navigating federal approval to securing stakeholder buy-in. Jane and Kathy share their firsthand experiences tackling these challenges. Ricardo highlights another critical factor: leadership. He emphasizes the courage needed to confront difficult decisions and the interpersonal skills required to rally board members behind a merger.