June 2, 2023 3p
(WGTD)---Speaking in the wake of the sudden closing of Cardinal Stritch University in suburban Milwaukee, Carthage College President John Swallow says the colleges that will survive are the ones that are perceived to offer the best value.
Appearing on WGTD’s Education Matters program, Swallow acknowledged that colleges are being pressured by lower birth and unemployment rates, and a heightened concern over the costs of a post-secondary education. He says schools like Carthage have to make sure that they're offering the right programs and options that can lead to fulfilling careers. "This is not to say that we don't want broadly-educated people who can explore, but given the cost, there has got to be a good return. And schools that are focused on that are the ones that are going to do well," he said.
Swallow said he believes that Carthage is well-positioned for the future, citing its academic programs, its location and a full-slate of athletics and extra-curricular activities.
The most worrisome trend that Swallow sees in higher education is a lower percentage of high school graduates that are pursuing a post-secondary education, be it either a four-year or a two-year program. "There is no way our economy--broadly construed here in Wisconsin or elsewhere--can prosper if fewer and fewer people are getting any post-secondary education," he said.
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