<p>Here's a good article on the effects of the economy on small private colleges, with the focus on one, Greensboro College in North Carolina, which has had to mortgage all of its assets, including its endowment, and is offering free tuition to honor students as long as they pay room and board.</p>
<p>On</a> the Brink of Disaster? | The John William Pope Center for Higher Education Policy</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>That is quite an opportunity for some kids who may not have been able to afford their accepted colleges. It sounds like the main problem was “keeping up with the Joneses” - spending millions on sports/athletic facilities to attract kids to a DIII school? Acquiring another dorm when they were near capacity? What were they thinking?!</p>
<p>Sk8rmom, you raise some valid points. My D has just started a DIII school, and I will communicate to the trustees that fancy sports/authletic facilities are NOT necessary or even good. Yes, it is nice to have teams to kids can blow off steam, or even go to football games, but no need to go nuts. </p>
<p>The difficulty with dorms (as I see it) is that there is lead time between when you start building, and when it is done. If schools dont agressively build dorms, and kids end up in triples, that will impact future attendance. While less expensive state schools can get away with triples, other schools will pay a price – IMHO.</p>
<p>What I think is a good idea is to have a “back-up” plan for dorms – maybe senior housing, depending on area.</p>
<p>I think they actually acquired a dorm last year by buying a (historic?) inn - every room has a separate entrance and bathroom. Nice, but not if you can’t pay for it!</p>