The EdUp Experience Why This College President Chose to Close Rather Than Merge - with Dr. Joseph Chillo, President When Newbury College Closed
It's YOUR time to #EdUp
In this episode, President Series (Powered By Ellucian) #343, part of a special EdUp College Closure Miniseries - Through the Eyes of..., brought to YOU by the InsightsEDU 2025 conference & Ellucian LIVE 2025
YOUR guest is Dr. Joseph Chillo, President When Newbury College Closed
YOUR host is Dr. Jay M. Keehn. Dr. Jay M. Keehn was employed by Union Institute & University for 18 years. UI&U formerly announced its’ closure in June, 2024.
During his tenure, he held roles as faculty, director of academic programs, campus executive director, & dean of students.
Dr. Keehn is the founder of THE CLUB, a monthly get-together of professionals affected by their college closing. In THE CLUB, people share their stories & socialize around the current landscape while looking at what may be Tomorrow’s Higher Education.
This episode explores how the 2008 banking crisis created significant challenges for college operations & student loans, fundamentally altering the higher education landscape.
Jay & Joseph delve into the strategic approaches institutions can employ when planning for potential closure, while examining the delicate balance leaders must maintain between confidentiality & transparency during closure planning.
The conversation reveals critical steps that can be taken to protect student academic progress & financial investment throughout the closure process.
Additionally, they discuss the profound impact that managing institutional closure has on leadership wellness & career trajectory.
Key insights from Dr. Chillo's experience demonstrate the vital importance of developing both survival & contingency plans early in the process, along with creating comprehensive teach-out agreements with multiple institutions to protect students' academic futures.
His leadership approach emphasized maintaining transparent communication with accreditors & banking partners throughout the closure process.
The discussion highlights how preserving institutional legacy through strategic distribution of assets can ensure lasting impact.
Throughout the conversation, Dr. Chillo shares his personal journey of balancing personal wellness with institutional responsibilities during this challenging transition.
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