Saving Sweet Briar College through Transformational Change Management

Sweet Briar College faced a major uphill climb after alumnae successfully pushed back the board of trustees’ decision to close the institution.

The college had to find ways to address and change perceived challenges, including declining interest in a liberal arts education, waning enrollment by women in women’s colleges, and the institution’s location in a rural Virginia setting.

The college’s leaders started their change initiative with major overhauls of the academic program, financial decision-making and budget.

The second phase of this initiative involves creating a strong focus on women’s leadership that is integrated into the liberal arts curriculum and sustainability.

The college grew enrollment by 42% after announcing the changes, and continues its growth to this day.