Fundraising Is Indispensable for Private Colleges Like Iowa Wesleyan - Commentary

David W. Leslie, chancellor professor of education emeritus at the College of William and Mary (VA), writes:  The pending closure of Iowa Wesleyan University has to be understood as a case study in college management. Data on college finances from the National Center for Education Statistics’ Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System show that Iowa Wesleyan’s financial situation deteriorated for a decade or more until it became unsustainable. This one case is not representative of all private colleges. IPEDS data for private liberal arts colleges in the Bureau of Economic Analysis’ Midwest region show wide variability.