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Marketing, Reputation, and Image Update
What to do with Michael Moore and the First Amendment: At least two universities are struggling with the perplexing question of using state funds -- to the tune of $35,000 a speech -- to pay the controversial filmmaker to appear on their campuses. The common thread: each institution was less than deft in their timing and reaction. What do these mishandled events say about our institutions?
Women's school seeks men, a move that sends students to protest and alumnae to outrage: Tiny Wells College in upstate New York has seen its enrollments at the women-only campus plunge in recent years. Trustees, worried about keeping the sinking ship afloat, have opened next year's ranks to men. The move has sent the 400-student campus into a tizzy. The obvious questions: what is the impact of a gender-specific school's going coed, and how to mitigate the damage to the school's reputation long term?
The latest "get rich with good students" approach: Develop a liberal-arts-based "honors college" within a college or university, and market that entity aggressively to the best and brightest. That is what is happening in increasing numbers nationwide. The obvious question: who benefits -- the students or the institution?
University campaign donations surge, most go to Kerry: Not that there is any truth to the "preponderance" of liberal democrat views on college campuses, but profs and staff have donated millions to presidential candidate Senator John Kerry -- and a fraction to incumbent President George Bush. Do we wonder why we are painted with a broad political brush?
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