Trusteeship - May/June 2020 - 17

Recommended Reading
The College Stress Test: Tracking Institutional Futures
Across a Crowded Market
Watkins students and faculty signed an open letter
calling for transparency about the proposed combination and maintenance of free speech on campus.
Soon after the announcement, Belmont's provost told listeners at a town hall after the merger
announcement that the university's policy against
hiring non-Christians would cause non-Christian
Watkins faculty and staff to not to be able to work at
the surviving institution. A few days later, Belmont
announced its official position that Watkins employees would receive special consideration for jobs at the
merged institution regardless of faith.
"This is a fascinating case study of a clash in
respective missions and core values, showing that
when you are merging institutions, you are not
just merging budgets and brands," says Paula Vene
Smith, the former chief academic officer and vice
president for academic affairs at Grinnell College and the author of Engaging Risk: A Guide for
College Leaders, a book on risk management at
higher education institutions. "Watkins is a small
art college with a mission of inclusiveness, creativity, and independence. Belmont has a whole
different approach. There has been a huge wave of
anxiety and rage about the merger among alumni
and people in the Watkins community. It appears
the potential clash here was not foreseen by the
trustees. It suggests that consultations hadn't taken
place by top leadership with those who would be
most affected by the transaction. Often in these
situations, there is a rush to rebrand without sufficient consideration about what the underlying purpose and mission of this newly merged institution
should be. Maybe some effort should have gone
into agreeing upon a joint mission statement. For
leaders of nonprofits and public institutions, there
are risks beyond financial weakness that require
attention to core academic mission and values."
"Belmont aims to provide a welcoming and
inclusive community for all students," says Belmont
spokesperson Greg Pillon. "It is our goal for every
single one of our more than 8,400 students to feel
loved, accepted, and supported. Belmont already has
more than 1,000 students who are currently pursing performing arts, fine arts, or other arts-related
programs like motion pictures and songwriting on
our campus. We're excited that that community of
creative students might further expand as Watkins
students consider joining us."
AGB.ORG

By Robert Zemsky, Susan Shaman, and Susan Campbell Baldridge
Johns Hopkins University Press, 2020

Strategic Mergers in Higher Education
By Ricardo Azziz, Guilbert C. Hentschke, Lloyd A. Jacobs,
and Bonita C. Jacobs
Publisher: Johns Hopkins University Press, 2019

Engaging Risk: A Guide for College Leaders
By Paula Vene Smith
Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, 2015

AGB Webinars on Demand
about Affiliations and Mergers
Tactical Advice for Higher Education Mergers
https://agb.org/events/webinars/webinar-on-demand/
tactical-advice-for-higher-education-mergers-affiliations-and-partnerships/

What You Need to Know About Affiliations and Mergers
in Higher Education
https://agb.org/events/webinars/webinar-on-demand/what-you-need-toknow-about-affiliations-and-mergers-in-higher-education/

Exploring Long-term Strategic Affiliations, Mergers, and
Partnerships
https://agb.org/events/webinars/webinar-on-demand/
exploring-long-term-strategic/

Considering an Affiliation or Merger?
Internal growth strategies, partnerships, and affiliations are all
critical considerations for growing enrollments, revenues, and
preventing stagnation or failure. AGB Consulting can help you
conduct a situational assessment and explore institutional quality
of earnings, then find and implement the strategies that will
enhance prosperity and support your overall growth strategy.
Contact Consulting@AGB.org to learn more.

https://agb.org/events/webinars/webinar-on-demand/tactical-advice-for-higher-education-mergers-affiliations-and-partnerships/ https://agb.org/events/webinars/webinar-on-demand/tactical-advice-for-higher-education-mergers-affiliations-and-partnerships/ https://agb.org/events/webinars/webinar-on-demand/what-you-need-to-know- about-affiliations-and-mergers-in-higher-education/ https://agb.org/events/webinars/webinar-on-demand/what-you-need-to-know- about-affiliations-and-mergers-in-higher-education/ https://agb.org/events/webinars/webinar-on-demand/exploring-long-term-strategic/ https://agb.org/events/webinars/webinar-on-demand/exploring-long-term-strategic/ http://www.AGB.ORG

Trusteeship - May/June 2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Trusteeship - May/June 2020