How a student-centered and values-driven college thrives during times of adversity

This blog summarizes the key takeaways from our fiscal resiliency podcast, episode 15.

Perhaps at no point in modern history have colleges and universities’ fiscal resiliency been put to the test more than in the last 2 ½ years. At many institutions, COVID-19 strained budgets, sliced enrollment numbers and exacerbated a variety of academic and non-academic issues that impacted students, staff members and the campuses themselves at almost every level. On the other hand, for some institutions, the pandemic served as a catalyst for change and enabled them to be successful despite its many disruptions.

Dave Capitano, Higher Education Practice Leader, explored the layers of this topic in our latest Higher Ed Advisor fiscal resiliency podcast with Dennis Wilke, the president of Rosedale Technical College (Rosedale Tech), an institution that prepares and equips its students for careers in high-demand fields through academic programs, hands-on training and skill development. Wilke joined us to share how Rosedale Tech’s unique value proposition, commitment to being student centered and deep alignment with their institutional mission and values helped them achieve fiscal resiliency and student success during the peak of and post-COVID-19.

Transforming institutional strategy

Wilke described Rosedale Tech as “kind of a unicorn.” By this, he meant that there are only a couple hundred private, not-for-profit, two-year degree institutions in the U.S. And few, if any, have enjoyed the type of success that Rosedale Tech has in recent years.

Capitano also emphasized the institution’s ability to maneuver and thrive through the COVID-19 years while other colleges and universities were treading water and closing their doors. Rosedale Tech reimagined its strategy and innovated how to continue to meet the needs of its changing diverse student population and achieve growth during an unprecedented event. “It was a transformational time,” Wilke said, adding that the Pittsburgh-based college actually experienced a record year of enrollment from July 1, 2020 until June 30, 2021. “It was phenomenal, and I’m really proud of what we’ve been able to accomplish.”