Article

Navigating the crisis in higher education

A call to action

Feb. 20, 2025 · Authored by Daniel Greenstein

Friends. Colleagues. Leaders. At some point, we must discuss what happened, bringing the intellectual curiosity we pride ourselves on and leaving the hurt, frustration and stridency at the door.

But that is for later - not too much later, mind you, but later all the same. 

For now, there’s a higher priority – addressing policies and actions that seem punitive rather than productive. The sudden reduction in overhead costs announced recently by the National Institutes of Health threatens the research infrastructure for finding new and effective treatments for diseases that harm with ruthless efficiency. While the proposed reduction may be rolled back through the courts or via other means, it is safe to assume continuing pressure on and possible decrease in federal research funding. Such actions will adversely impact the critical and meaningful work of many research institutions and will require constant and nimble adaptation. 

Some months ago, I stepped down as chancellor of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education. “U.S. higher education is struggling,” I wrote. “The risks are profound. The crises are real. And the students—the people—that I care about the most are in danger of being left further behind. I need to help. It’s in my DNA. I am reminded now more than ever of words I was raised with: ‘If I am only for myself, what am I? And if not now, when?” 

At Baker Tilly, we stand shoulder to shoulder in support of higher education institutions - not just in words but deeds.

Today, I am excited to announce two services designed to help university and college institutions navigate these unsettling times. Each is described in greater detail via the links below to new insights:

Research administration support. Severe reductions in research overhead costs paid by the NIH will hobble the nation’s research infrastructure and slow advances that promise to improve and save lives. Our research administration supports realizing cost savings for institutions who use them – savings that may be poured directly into the research mission.

Risk management assessment. In recent weeks, many colleges and universities realized their approach to risk management was narrowly transactional. It did not account for changes in political, funding, and public trust environments. Some are left unprepared, figuring out how to respond and navigate to safer, more resilient ground. Baker Tilly brings over 25 years of experience strengthening ERM across all higher education sectors, approaching risk holistically. Drawing on those experiences, we will evaluate your management strategies and recommend options to enhance them. Our team will produce recommendations tailored to an institution’s unique missions, circumstances, governance structure, culture and capabilities.

Those of you who know me know I am an irrepressible optimist. We will manage through these headwinds. We have no choice. We aren’t too big to fail. We are too critical to the health and well-being of this country.  There will be difficult discussions along the way and many changes - some of them transformative - in how we work, how we interact with the public and its representatives in elected office. We will learn to listen and hear and even respond constructively to the many concerns that are being voiced about this industry and its performance, our value and our values. We will demonstrate in actions and words our commitment to advancing the democratic experiment that is the United States of America and all those participating in it. 

Please note: All views and opinions expressed are my own.