covid-19 strategy survey of aacu presidents · 03-04-2020 · •our “pulse” survey ran from...

COVID-19 Strategy Survey of AACU Presidents

April 3, 2020

Source: ABC Insights & rpk GROUP Survey of AACU Presidents' Trust; April 1, 2020; n=142 Proprietary and Confidential

Introduction

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• We are delighted to share our survey results of a survey conducted with the AACU (Association of American Colleges and Universities)

• We reached out to the 285 presidents who comprised the Presidents’ Trust

• Our “Pulse” survey ran from March 27, 2020 through April 1, 2020

• We worked in collaboration with rpk Group in analyzing the results

• The results of this survey were the basis for an article in The Chronicle of Higher Education on April 3, 2020 as well as a Virtual Forum on April 8, 2020

• See additional COVID-19 and Higher Ed resources at abc-insights.com

For more information contact Paul N. Friga, Ph.D., principal [email protected] or [email protected]

http://www.abc-insights.com/

http://abc-insights.com

http://unc.edu


Contents

Future Considerations in Dealing With COVID-19

Anticipated Scenarios for COVID-19

Expected Potential Decreases to Revenue in FY21

Anticipated Changes to Administrative Costs

Actions Presidents Anticipate Taking

Ranking of Communication to Different Key Groups

What Presidents are Most Worried About

Sense of Morale on Campus

Current Plans for Future CommunicationAnticipated Changes to Academic Programs

Anticipated Changes to Tuition Demographic Breakdown

5-7 |

8-9 |

10-11 |

12-13 |

14-15 |

Slide 4 |

18-24 |

25 |

26 |

27-33 |

34 |

16-17 |

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Our response group represented a good cross sample of institutions (142 responses on sample of 285 or 50%)

Small: 0 – 5,000 Students Medium: 5,001 – 15,000 Students Large: 15,001+ Students

4-Year Private Universities

4-Year Public Universities

2-Year Community Colleges

78%

4%

18%23%

36%

41%

31%25%

44%

77 38 27

4


Presidents are clearly planning to weather a storm

75.2% 72.1%

54.7%

39.9%

13.0%

Hunker Down Layoff Staff Across theBoard Cuts

Cut R&D Cut IT

5

Future Considerations in Dealing With COVID-19• "I worry about cuts in state and

county funding. … I worry that I won't have the workforce resources to help lead the economic recovery."

• "Beyond the well-being of our students and staff, which comes first, I am worried about the lack of sufficient relief for higher education from state and federal governments."

• "Sharply declining revenue due to loss of paying students and a new ‘free college’ program in our state."

• "All income streams are under stress — tuition, development, endowment."


High level actions did not vary significantly across types

76% 78%

59%

41%

16%

70%67%

54%

40%

9%

87%

60%

33% 33%

13%

Hunker Down Layoff Staff Across the Board Cuts Cut R&D Cut IT

6

Future Considerations in Dealing With COVID-19 – Institution Type





Different size universities are generally in alignment, with the exception of the percent of small universities planning on layoffs

77%81%

59%

40%

16%

70%

57%53%

36%

8%

78%

65%

46% 44%

11%

Hunker Down Layoff Staff Across the Board Cuts Cut R&D Cut IT

7

Future Considerations in Dealing With COVID-19 – Institution Size

Small: 0-5k Students

Medium: 5k-15k Students

Large: 15k+ Students


Presidents are cautiously optimistic but also planning for change

64%

36%

Moderate Severe

• Moderate – “I don’t believe operations will be as normal or as defined as they were pre COVID-19. We will adopt more remote work and utilize technology in ways never imagined”

• Moderate – “This situation only exacerbates the declining enrollment challenge that schools have in this region”

• Moderate – “We are planning for six potential scenarios. Even our best-case scenario does not envision a ‘return to normal’”

• Severe – “I anticipate continuing virtual instruction for all of 2020 – 2021 academic year and budget reductions of 5-20%”

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Anticipated Scenarios


There is consistency across perspectives on scenarios

63% 63%

73%

37% 37%

27%

Public Private Community

63% 65% 67%

37% 35% 33%

Small Medium Large

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Anticipated Scenarios - Institution Type and Size

Moderate Severe Moderate Severe


70% expect revenue decreases of 10% or more

9.2%

39.7%

21.3%

12.1% 10.6%7.1%

0-4.9% 5-9.9% 10-14.9% 15-19.9% 20-24.9% 25%+

10

Expected Potential Decreases to Revenue in FY21Institution Type





0-4.9% 5-9.9% 10-14.9% 15-19.9% 20-24.9% 25%+

Small institutions expect a bigger hit to revenue

9.2%

39.7%

21.3%

12.1% 10.6%7.1%

Expected Potential Decreases to Revenue in FY21Institution Size

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A top priority will be administrative cost cutting

1.3%

83.5%

15.2%

0.0%

89.4%

10.6%6.7%

86.7%

6.7%

None Some Significantly




12

How Significantly Presidents Anticipate Cutting Administrative Costs in FY21Institution Type


All sizes of institutions expect administrative cost cutting

2.6%

80.5%

16.9%

0.0%

94.6%

5.4%0.0%

88.9%

11.1%


How Significantly Presidents Anticipate Cutting Administrative Costs in FY21Institution Size




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Academic cutting will take place to a lesser degree

44.3%

51.9%

3.8%

53.2%

46.8%

0.0%

66.7%

33.3%

0.0%





14

How Significantly Presidents Anticipate Cutting Academic

Programs in FY21Institution Type


No significant difference in academic cutting plans across size

46.8%49.4%

3.9%

54.1%

45.9%

0.0%

51.9%

48.1%

0.0%


How Significantly Presidents Anticipate Cutting Academic

Programs in FY21Institution Size




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The vast majority expect to maintain tuition levels

12.7%

78.5%

8.9%

2.1%

85.1%

12.8%

0.0%

80.0%

20.0%

Decreased Maintained Increased

How Presidents Anticipate Tuition will Change in FY21Institution Type




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Similarity in tuition strategy across different sized institutions

11.7%

76.6%

11.7%

2.7%

89.2%

8.1%3.7%

81.5%

14.8%

Decreased Maintained Increased




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How Presidents Anticipate Tuition will Change in FY21Institution Size


Expected actions by presidents – All Institutions

YesNo

83%85%96% 55%57%

27%28%30% 12%21%

Reengineering Operational Process

Providing Room & Board Refunds

Freezing Hiring Implementing Furloughs

Laying Off Staff

Increasing Part-time Faculty

Increasing Non-tenure Faculty

Drawing Down Endowment Principle

Cutting Benefits Providing Tuition Refunds

How many presidents anticipate taking the following actions – All Institutions

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Expected actions by presidents – Private Universities

YesNo

83%94%94% 55%63%

38%24%24% 6%32%




Laying Off Staff





How many presidents anticipate taking the following actions – Private Universities

19


Expected actions by presidents – Public Universities

YesNo

81%91%100% 57%46%

11%36%37% 6%11%




Laying Off Staff





How many presidents anticipate taking the following actions – Public Universities

20


Expected actions by presidents – Community Colleges

YesNo

93%14%100% 47%57%

20%21%40% 53%0%




Laying Off Staff





How many presidents anticipate taking the following actions – Community Colleges

21


Expected actions by presidents – Small Institutions

YesNo

81%91%93% 64%70%

39%24%29% 8%32%




Laying Off Staff





How many presidents anticipate taking the following actions – Small Institutions

22


Expected actions by presidents – Medium Institutions

YesNo

89%76%100% 38%38%

11%36%32% 16%11%




Laying Off Staff





How many presidents anticipate taking the following actions – Medium Institutions

23


Expected actions by presidents – Large Institutions

YesNo

81%81%100% 52%44%

15%27%30% 15%7%




Laying Off Staff





How many presidents anticipate taking the following actions – Large Institutions

24


Enrollment and financial issues lead the ‘worry’ list

42% | Enrollment

27% | Finance

20% | Duration

5% | Access

14% | Uncertainty

9% | Completion

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• “The duration of the epidemic leading to lost revenues and necessary layoffs”

• “Hitting new student enrollment targets and existing student retention targets”

• “Everyone’s health and recovery, then sustaining excellence in academics, research, and co-curricular learning”

• “Long-term challenges in student behavior when it comes to the value of a liberal arts college”

• “Beyond the well-being of our students and staff, which comes first, I am worried about the lack of sufficient relief for higher education from state and federal governments”

What Presidents are Most Worried About


Presidents are working on keeping students and staff motivated

43% | Good

• “Right now we are nervous, but morale is good. We have done a good job of keeping our college community informed on a daily basis and have held three virtual town halls.”

• “Our faculty and staff are amazing and are rallying. They are working their hardest to not allow this to get them down. I must say how proud I am of faculty and staff during these unprecedented times.”

• “There is a sense of purpose and unity at this time which has been amazing.”

• “Exhaustion – though the innovation of change has been interesting for many.”

• “Very good – we have had a great response by our faculty, staff, and students as we enter these uncharted times.”3% | Poor

26% | Fairly Good

27% | Fairly Poor

Sense of Morale on Campus

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Ranking of communication focus by constituent group

80%

9%4% 3% 4%6%

66%

24%

4%0%2%

9%

53%

31%

5%9%

17%13%

50%

11%

3% 1%5%

14%

77%

First Second Third Fourth Fifth

Students80%

Staff53%

Faculty66%

Alumni77%

Board50%1 2 3 4 5

Ranking of Communication FocusAll Institutions

27



79%

12%

1%4% 4%6%

58%

32%

4%0%1%

10%

47%

36%

7%11%

23%

13%

53%

0%3% 1%

4%7%

85%


Students79%

Staff47%

Faculty58%

Alumni85%

Board53%1 2 3 4 5

Ranking of Communication FocusPrivate Universities

28



82%

2%7%

2%7%

0%

81%

17%

2% 0%5% 7%

60%

26%

2%

9%12% 12%

40%

28%

5%0%

7%

28%

60%


Students82%

Staff60%

Faculty81%

Alumni60%

Board40%1 2 3 4 5

Ranking of Communication FocusPublic Universities

29



73%

13% 13%

0% 0%

27%

60%

7% 7%0%0%

13%

67%

20%

0%0%7%

14%

64%

14%

0% 0% 0%

13%

87%


Students73%

Staff67%

Faculty60%

Alumni87%

Board64%1 2 3 4 5

Ranking of Communication FocusCommunity Colleges

30



81%

8%4% 4% 3%

6%

59%

33%

3%0%

3%

10%

42%39%

7%10%

23%

14%

46%

6%1% 1%

7% 8%

82%


Students81%

Staff42%

Faculty59%

Alumni82%

Board46%1 2 3 4 5

Ranking of Communication FocusSmall Institutions

31



78%

8% 6%3%

6%6%

75%

11%8%

0%3%

6%

67%

22%

3%9%

12% 12%

53%

15%

6%0%

3%

17%

75%


Students78%

Staff67%

Faculty75%

Alumni75%

Board53%1 2 3 4 5

Ranking of Communication FocusMedium Institutions

32



77%

12%

4%0%

8%9%

73%

18%

0% 0%0%

13%

70%

17%

0%

8% 8% 8%

54%

21%

4%0% 0%

29%

67%


Students77%

Staff70%

Faculty73%

Alumni67%

Board54%1 2 3 4 5

Ranking of Communication FocusLarge Institutions

33


Communication is key and strategies vary

• “I send a message to the campus once or twice a week minimum. We have a COVID-19 website. We did videos to post on the college home page.”

• “We have put a lot of effort into communicating via email, social media, web page, zoom, and live chats on a variety of platforms - doing more of it this coming week”

• “Daily e-mail updates and virtual town halls. We have held two virtual town halls in the past ten days. WebEx is helping to maintain continuity of operations.”

• “Videos weekly and virtual forums for employees. Weekly surveys of students. HR contacting employees for ‘wellness check’ calls.”

• “Regular communication to our board, faculty and staff, students and family, alumni and friends are done weekly through email, video, and website postings.”

Current Plans For Future Communication

35% | Zoom/Video

14% | Website

50% | Emails/Letters

22% | Social Media

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covid-19 strategy survey of aacu presidents · 03-04-2020 · •our “pulse” survey ran from...

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