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As colleges and universities face enrollment pressures and budget cuts, and systems try to ensure financial sustainability while also increasing access to higher education, joint- and multi-campus programs offer some solutions. These programs can help institutions share faculty and financial resources, eliminate duplication of programs in close proximity, increase access for place-bound or underrepresented students, and address state workforce needs.
EAB has identified four models of joint- and multi-campus programs. The following study details a case study for each model and offers advice for administrators as they think about implementing a joint- or multi-campus program.
Multi-campus programs can help address higher ed challenges
“We desperately need to have a conversation about program proliferation. We have 22,000 students and 380 degree programs. Our state flagship has 45,000 students and only 215 programs. Clearly, something is off.”
CBO, Public Research University
Many states are experiencing enrollment declines, and will likely continue to in the near future, as the high school graduate population decreases. However, college populations are projected to grow slightly before they decline again. It is important that institutions and systems are not complacent about finding efficient means to grow enrollment and manage the costs of academic programming.
In addition to enrollment declines, institutions will face substantial budget cuts that force them to rely on tuition revenue more than ever before. Nearly all states have decreased spending per student in the last decade, many decreasing spending by 25 percent or more.
4 multi-campus academic programs case studies
A program created by merging departments at two institutions within a university system. Each provides funding, faculty, administrative oversight, etc. – and students from both institutions can access all courses and faculty support. Read more.
An academic program spread across multiple campuses within a university system. Each institution provides some faculty and funding, and courses are distributed across a virtual department – some taught by each institution, with students coming from each campus. Read more.
A campus facility that hosts programs from several institutions – often members of a university system. The system manages the facility, including shared services, while individual institutions maintain oversight over academic programming. Read more.
A campus site, managed by a university system, that offers academic programs from multiple system institutions, workforce training and certificates, and houses industry-sponsored research. Sites are organized around themes, like engineering or information technology. Read more.
Best practices for implementation
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