Education Webinar Library

The Stevens & Lee Companies and Academic Innovators are pleased to announce a series of five on-demand webinars related to strategic alternatives for higher education institutions. Below are brief overviews and links to each of these webinars:

Strategic Planning in the Age of Coronavirus and Beyond: Tactics to Survive the Pandemic Now and Evaluating Your Strategic Alternatives for the Future

Originally recorded: July 28, 2020

Summary: The outlook for the higher education sector was bleak before the pandemic, but the pandemic will likely foment a crisis in the industry. Today, most institutions are working to avoid or mitigate a liquidity crisis, but is your institution thinking strategically about its realistic alternatives once the immediate crisis has passed?

An independent strategic alternative study can help you to evaluate the impact of the evolving external landscape on your institution, affirm and validate your financial viability, and provide a feasible assessment of the long term alternatives for your institution. A strategic alternative study is also one way that officers and board members can meet their fiduciary responsibilities to their organization and constituents.

Presenters: Brian Mitchell, President and Managing Principal, Academic Innovators; Joseph M. Harenza, Chairman, Griffin Financial Group; Blake C. Marles, Chair, Higher Education Group, Stevens & Lee; Rebecca C. Delia, Senior Vice President, Higher Education, Financial S&Lutions; Richard K. Gaumer, Founding Principal, Academic Innovators

Remaining as an Independent Higher Education Institution in a Post-Pandemic World

Originally Recorded: November 16, 2020

Summary: Does independence continue to make sense for your college or university? Can your institution survive and thrive through and after the COVID-19 crisis as an independent institution? What are the kinds of issues that you need to think about, how do you plan for continued independence, and how do you measure the outcomes of your decision?

This webinar highlights the importance of critical self-assessment, as well as a number of areas on which institutions should focus, including but not limited to, revenue enhancement, cost reduction, margin improvement, liquidity, credit, risk mitigation and governance, among other issues.

Presenters: Brian C. Mitchell, President and Managing Principal, Academic Innovators; Blake C. Marles, Chair, Higher Education Group, Stevens & Lee; Rebecca C. Delia, Senior Vice President, Higher Education, Financial S&Lutions; Richard K. Gaumer, Founding Principal, Academic Innovators; and Jennifer L. Nevins, Shareholder, Stevens & Lee

Considering a Merger for Your College or University: Can You Make 2+2=6?

Originally recorded: September 14, 2020

Summary: According to a survey conducted by Inside Higher Education in July 2020, 22% of Chief Business Officers believe their institution should merge — but how do you get started and what are some of the considerations and challenges you may face? This webinar will provide an overview of the common reasons to merge, the typical steps in the process, considerations in any merger and sample legal structures, as well as provide examples of successful mergers and failed attempts in the higher education sector.

Growing Your Institution Through a Long Term Strategic Partnership or “Private System Affiliation”

Originally recorded: January 26, 2021

Summary: Many private, not-for-profit colleges and universities recognize that they lack the resources necessary for organic growth and reinvestment, but fear they will lose or jeopardize their unique mission, brand, culture, campus or other aspects of their institutional identity if they were to be acquired by another institutions. A private system is one way to create scale and leverage administrative talent and system wide resources, while preserving certain aspects of an institution’s individual identity.

This webinar provides several examples of private systems, in and outside of the higher education sector, including typical features of these systems, common legal and governance structures and some of the potential benefits.

Presenters: Brian C. Mitchell, President and Managing Principal, Academic Innovators; Richard K. Gaumer, Founding Principal, Academic Innovators; Blake C. Marles, Chair, Higher Education Group, Stevens & Lee; Joanne M. Judge, Shareholder, Stevens & Lee; and Rebecca C. Delia, Senior Vice President, Higher Education, Financial S&Lutions

Is Closing Your Institution the Most Responsible Alternative?

Originally recorded: August 21, 2020

Summary: Given existing sector headwinds, and now the revenue uncertainty and mounting costs associated with the pandemic, some higher education institutions have already closed and more are expected to follow.

This webinar addresses when a higher education institution should consider closing, lessons learned from recent closings and attempts to close, as well as what to expect and do if you plan to close your institution.

Presenters: Brian Mitchell, President and Managing Principal, Academic Innovators; Joseph M. Harenza, Chairman, Griffin Financial Group; Blake C. Marles, Chair, Higher Education group, Stevens & Lee; Rebecca C. Delia, Senior Vice President, Higher Education, Financial S&Lutions; Richard K. Gaumer, Founding Principal, Academic Innovators