March 22, 2017
Not Immune from Consolidation Talk
At first glance, Barry University and St. Thomas University might seem to be better positioned for the future than many other small private institutions. The two Roman Catholic universities are both located to the north of the city of Miami in fast-growing Miami-Dade County. They both enroll large numbers of Hispanic students at a time when projections suggest growth among numbers of Hispanic high school graduates in Florida.
​But the two institutions in South Florida aren’t immune from the pressures pushing small nonprofit colleges and universities to change.
Early this month, word circulated that Barry and St. Thomas are exploring a "strategic alliance." The process is still in its early stages, so the details of what such an alliance would look like aren’t clear. In theory, it could run the gamut from sharing back-office tasks to a full merger.
​But the two institutions in South Florida aren’t immune from the pressures pushing small nonprofit colleges and universities to change.
Early this month, word circulated that Barry and St. Thomas are exploring a "strategic alliance." The process is still in its early stages, so the details of what such an alliance would look like aren’t clear. In theory, it could run the gamut from sharing back-office tasks to a full merger.