{"type":"rich","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Transistor","provider_url":"https://transistor.fm","author_name":"Small College America","title":"Financial Warning Signs for Small Colleges — What the Data Shows with Robert Kelchen","html":"","width":"100%","height":180,"duration":1505,"description":"Dean Hoke: Welcome to Small College America, a podcast dedicated to exploring the role and value of small colleges in the higher education landscape. I'm Dean Hoke, and I’m joined by my co-host, Kent Barnds.Kent Barnds: Robert Kelchen is a professor of higher education and head of the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. His research interests include higher education finance, accountability policies, and student financial aid. Kelchen is the author of Higher Education Accountability and regularly publishes in top education journals. He has received the Robert P. Huff Golden Quill Award for excellence in financial aid research from the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators and has been recognized as one of the most influential faculty members in education by Education Week.He is also the data editor for Washington Monthly magazine’s annual college guide and rankings. Kelchen holds a bachelor’s degree in economics and finance from Truman State University, a master’s degree in economics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and a PhD in educational policy studies from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Interview Questions (Estimated length: 27–30 minutes; six questions)Q1: About Robert’s BackgroundRobert, before we dive into the data, could you briefly describe your work at the University of Tennessee—what you teach and research—and how that role shapes the way you think about institutional finance and risk—particularly for small, tuition-dependent colleges. Q2: Recent IPEDS Research Robert, you recently evaluated the newest IPEDS finance data (FY 2024) and dug into how often colleges lose money across sectors. You pointed out that the frequency of institutional financial losses is rising, especially among private nonprofit colleges. What does this trend tell you about the resilience of small colleges, and how should leaders interpret episodic versus persistent operating...","thumbnail_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/znlC7CX69qE7r5pUJE2XJslxrx-kQRnGqXvS0RvbqbM/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:400/h:400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS9kMjAw/ZTk5Nzg4NDA4ODlj/NjI1MzgwOTJjYTY5/MmUzYi5wbmc.webp","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300}