Navigating Change in Higher Education: How Two Pennsylvania Institutions are Adapting to the Shifting Landscape

Neil Horgan - Villanova University
Christopher Collins - Moody's Ratings
Sharon Minnich - Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education

The evolving higher education landscape presents unique challenges and opportunities for colleges and universities in Pennsylvania. Today’s decisions around strategy and resource allocation will go a long way in determining future success. This session brings together the chief financial officers from PASSHE and Villanova University. Additionally, you will hear the perspective of Moody’s Ratings as it assesses this challenging impact, including how the current dynamics are impacting credit quality of Pennsylvania colleges and universities.

Both PASSHE and Villanova have taken bold actions to improve their strategic standing and promote longer-term financial sustainability. PASSHE, which has grappled with years of enrollment declines, embarked on a multifaceted system redesign initiative to strengthen finances, streamline operations, and increase access to affordable public higher education. Learn more about how their work was structured and how they identified and accomplished a significant level of change in a short period of time, while looking ahead to potentially further changes as proposed by the Governor. Villanova, which continues to experience strong student demand, recently acquired the nearby Cabrini University campus to accommodate enrollment growth and expand academic programs. The panelists will share their views on how the respective strategies of their institutions came to fruition, including the key decision points and approach to stakeholder buy-in, and how long-term success will be measured.

Learning Objectives

  1. Describe how Moody’s is assessing the current landscape and key considerations they look for with institutions in today’s environment in assessing credit quality.
  2. Define the distinctive characteristics shaping the higher education sector in Pennsylvania.
  3. Outline the approaches that two very different types of institutions – PASSHE and Villanova University – are taking to ensure future success and longer-term financial sustainability.

CPE Available

  • 1 Credit: Finance