Going 'Old School': Preserving the True Value of Higher Education

In episode 927 of The EdUp Experience , I interviewed the President at Bryant University , Dr. Ross Gittell . We had a candid conversation about the state of higher education as institutions nationwide grapple with declining enrollment, eroding public trust, and questions about their value proposition. The discussion couldn't have been more timely considering more recent events! Suppose you add in the complexities of the FAFSA delays from 2024, increasing mental health concerns among students. In that case, it's possible that leading an institution of higher education now is more difficult than it was during COVID.

You have to have that value proposition, that sense of mission in who you are as an institution. You have to really focus on your mission and deliver on it and be able to articulate it well. The only way you're going to achieve that mission if people are passionate about it and you're focused."

Remember "Frank the Tank" in the movie Old School? He passionately defends the value of fraternity life for colleges and universities. It's that passionate defense and proactive communication that we need in higher education to restore value. Let's go "Old School" and explore what Dr. Gittel is doing to help restore that value!

In an era where higher education faces unprecedented challenges, Dr. Gittel reminds us why the traditional college experience still matters. Dr. Gittell champions the enduring value of residential education and community building. He recognizes the unprecedented challenges, but, like Bryant University, some institutions are not just surviving but thriving.

Yet amidst these challenges, some institutions are not just surviving but thriving.

"You're My Boy, Blue!" - The Power of Campus Community

Just as Blue's fraternity brothers celebrated their deep connection, Bryant University emphasizes the irreplaceable value of campus community. "The residential life is part of the learning experience," Gittell explains. With 120 different student clubs and organizations serving 3,500 undergraduates, Bryant demonstrates that size doesn't limit impact.

"People say their impression of Bryant is that everybody holds the door open for each other because they care about each other," Gittell shares. In an increasingly digital world, this human connection matters more than ever.

"We're Going Streaking!" - Standing Out in Today's Higher Ed Landscape

While Will Ferrell's character took an unconventional approach to getting noticed, Bryant University distinguishes itself through clear mission focus and exceptional outcomes. The university ranks in the top 1% for return on investment according to Georgetown University research, with 2023 graduates averaging $72,500 in starting salary.

More impressively, 78% of students from families in the lowest income quartile reach the top income quartile by their early thirties. That's not just standing out – that's transforming lives.

"Earmuffs" - The Hard Truth About Higher Ed ROI

Sometimes the truth needs to be heard, even if it's uncomfortable. Like Vince Vaughn's character using "earmuffs" to shield young ears from harsh realities, many institutions struggle to be transparent about program outcomes. Gittell takes a different approach:

"We have to be transparent... These are the degrees where the premium is the highest, these are degrees where it's lower. You have to make it transparent to those students who are considering those fields." This underscores the concept of relevance for a product or service being delivered to a consumer. If the product is lacks relevance in terms of its value, there isn't a transaction. A basic marketing/sales concept with which higher education can struggle with.

"Once it's in your blood, it's in your blood" - The Journey Through Higher Ed Leadership

Dr. Gittell's passion for education runs deep. From his early days watching his mother break barriers as a professor at Queens College to serving as chancellor of New Hampshire's community college system, his diverse experience shapes his leadership approach.

"You have to meet students where they are," Dr. Gittell emphasized, drawing from his community college experience. "Help them overcome their challenges, and focus on their strong outcomes." This is the storytelling piece of higher education often missing in marketing and enrollment practices. To restore value, it's about telling the right story.

"We're trying to start a movement here" - Rebuilding Trust in Higher Education

The movie's underdogs fought to prove their legitimacy to skeptical administrators. Similarly, higher education faces a crisis of public trust. But Gittell remains optimistic: "I think there's a lot of resiliency in higher ed... I think we're going to continue to innovate."

His solution?

Focus on data and outcomes while never losing sight of education's human element. "The years between 18 and 22 are very formative," he notes. "There's a lot of development that needs to happen during that period."

The Final Take

Like the unlikely brotherhood formed in "Old School," successful higher education institutions build communities that transform lives. In Bryant University's case, that means maintaining a laser focus on student outcomes while nurturing the human connections that make education meaningful.

As Frank the Tank would say, "That's the way you do it! That's the way you debate!" And that's how you lead a university in challenging times.

Ladies and Gentlemen, YOU've just EdUpped.

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