Greetings from Stevens Strategy!

In this newsletter we invite you to check out the new client video testimonials on our updated web site, learn more about our work with Wilson College, review our new service on risk assessment, read relevant articles on the higher education landscape, and welcome three new consultants to the firm!

At our recent 10-year anniversary celebration with clients and friends, we asked current and former clients to tell about their experiences working with Stevens Strategy. We were overwhelmed with the positive response and are honored to share these Video Testimonials with you. Our deepest thanks to those who provided their time and thoughts!

• Sr. Patricia Fadden, Immaculata University
• Dr. John Fitzpatrick and Dr. Sharon DeVivo, Vaughn College
• Dr. Sharon Hirsh, Rosemont College
• Dr. Ellen Hurwitz, Pine Manor College
• Sr. Francesca Onley, Holy Family University
• Dr. Kathleen Owens, Gwynedd-Mercy College
• Dr. Michele Perkins, New England College
• Dr. John Scaringe, Southern California University of Health Sciences
• Dr. Mary Pat Seurkamp, University of Notre Dame of Maryland

As we reported to you in our last newsletter, Stevens Strategy worked recently with Wilson College to identify the best strategies to ensure its future viability and success. The Chronicle of Higher Education has been covering the collaborative work of the College community under the leadership of the Commission on Shaping the Future of Wilson College and other national publications have covered the story as well. Please see the articles (and podcast), below, for continued coverage of this challenging and important work:

• What’s Happening To Women’s Colleges? (Interview with President Mistick, Wilson College), 90.9 WBUR, Here & Now podcast, 4/11/13
• Armed With Data, a Women’s College Tries a Transformation, Chronicle of Higher Education. 2/4/13
• Debates on Men at Women’s Colleges, Inside Higher Ed, 1/14/13
• Seeking Enrollment Boost, Wilson College Will Admit Men, Chronicle of Higher Education, 1/13/13

Enterprise risk management (ERA) is becoming an area of heightened importance for many institutions – a lesson learned the hard way by several major institutions that have experienced high profile controversies in the past year. As many of you know, ERA was emphasized at the recent AGB conference in San Francisco. Stevens Strategy has expertise in this emerging area and we have developed a product to help colleges do it well. Please see our new Risk Assessment Process service description; we would be pleased to discuss our approach to helping your institution manage risk with you.

As always, below we provide a few of the more useful articles we’ve seen recently related to addressing the many challenges we face in higher education today:

• On Notice, Again, Inside Higher Ed, 2/13/13
• US Higher Education Outlook Negative in 2013, Moody’s Investors Service, 1/16/13
• Online Rx for ‘Cost Disease’ , Inside Higher Ed, 3/29/13
• Many Colleges Could Lose Federal Aid Eligibility Under New Interpretation of Rule, Chronicle of Higher Education (may require subscription), 4/3/13
• 9 Myths about Private Nonprofit Higher Education, NAICU
• Behind Rollins College Chief’s Battle, a Broader Liberal-Arts Debate, Chronicle of Higher Education (may require subscription), 3/28/13
• Revolution Hits the Universities, New York Times, 1/26/13
• What You Need to Know About MOOCs, Chronicle of Higher Education (may require subscription), 3/14/13
• Who’s Afraid of the Big Bad MOOC?, Chronicle of Higher Education (may require subscription), 5/6/13
• College Grads May Be Stuck in Low-Skill Jobs, Wall Street Journal, 3/26/13
• Understanding Loans and Credit At Every Stage of Life (Part II: Loans and Credit During the College Years), , Credit Score Blog

Finally, we are extremely pleased to announce the addition of three terrific higher education experts to the Stevens Strategy consulting team! Wanda Bigham has over 20 years of experience in higher education executive administration, with two presidencies and a consulting focus on leadership, strategic planning, governance, team building, and executive search. Bill Goetz also has a wealth higher ed experience, from faculty member, to dean and executive vice president, as well as Chancellor of a state system and state senator; his consulting will focus on strategic planning and leadership development. Bob Johnson has over 25 years of IT experience in higher education and the private sector, with a focus on transformation of both the business and technical aspects of information technology – using the correct technologies to forward an institution’s business needs and maximize resources. You may also click on Consultant Biographies for full information on all of our consulting colleagues. We look forward to introducing Wanda, Bill, and Bob to you on a project soon!

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As always, we welcome your referrals.

John