Reflections on Challenges of Church Related Colleges and Universities

Chris Gehrz, professor of history at Bethel University in MN, posts weekly for the Anxious Bench on a variety of topics. Chris offered reflections this week in "Will Your (Christian) College Close?" He concludes that the "...recent series of closures suggests the pace is quickening, and that my particular sector of higher ed may face unique challenges."

Gehrz then follows with comments on the stress church related institutions are facing as they compete for students within the broader higher education sector.

 

Gehrz's current post is based on an update of analysis he originally posted in a couple of entries on his The Pietist Schoolman blog back in 2013. The first, "When Colleges Close: A Historical Sketch," published April 22, 2013 includes his observations backed up by several interesting charts and tables. "When Colleges Close: Recent History," published April 29, 2013, follows up with an emphasis on some of the more well-established institutions [those with 100+ years of history] that have closed in recent years.