Torch, Spring 1986

.. 4 PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE The State of Higher Education Today and Cedarville College Higher education is going through the most trying time in its history. Some have referred to it as the "ice age" or "the new depression" in higher education. No college or university in this country is immune to its effects, and only those who prepare now will withstand institutional hardships or, for some, even closure . After World War II, higher educa– tion became a growth industry; the baby boom created an era called the "golden age." From 1954 to 1974, stu– dent enrollment rose from 2.4 million to 12 million. Colleges and universities responded by adding programs, hiring faculty , and expanding facilities. But in 1979, the pool of available 18-year– olds peaked . A recent statistic projects that the number of traditional college-age indi– viduals will decline by 26 percent until 1995. This is a drop from 4.3 million available students in 1979 to 3.2 mil– lion. As a result of shifts in population, some states, especially in the north central region, will suffer nearly 40 percent losses . The opinion prevails that private colleges are especially vulnerable be– cause of increased competition for scholarship monies from private From 1980 to 1995 there will be a decline of26 percent in the number ofI8-year-ofds in the United States. sources and reductions of government aid to students. Moreover, operating costs have spiraled and student fees must increase, widening the tuition gap between public and private institutions . Faculty are getting older; most are tenured. With declining or stable en– rollment, few are the opportunities to bring in young faculty members with their new ideas and enthusiasm. Buildings constructed in the "glory years" now are vacant or in need of re– modeling or repair. Deferred mainte– nance has reached a critical point on some campuses. Now, new words such as "retrench– ment," "contingency planning," and "financial exigencies" have crept into our vocabularies. Many institutions are already reeling under the impact. Consolidation of programs, layoffs of faculty, and dor– mitory closings are reported. Christian schools are not exempt. Capably managed private colleges with a religious emphasis suffer along with their secular counterparts. In realistic terms, our times require a new day of management - a manage– ment of decline. 18-Year-Old Population: 1950-2000 -t (MILLION> 2 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990