Keene State College (KSC) President Melinda Treadwell was recently on WKBK’s Good Morning with Dan Mitchell to talk about where Keene State is and what she views as its successes and challenges moving forward. To understand it, we must first look backward.
Keene State’s problems have been many, beginning with the campus culture that ignited the 2014 Pumpkin Festival riot. Hundreds of KSC students engaged in a mostly peaceful protest (way ahead of their time), resulting in property damage and injury to at least 30 individuals. The city of Keene tried to fine the Fesital proprietor to cover the $90,000.00 in damages. They refused, with good reason.
The root cause was a college campus with woke professors who for years continued to foster the sort of attitudes that led to the riot (IMO), and a drop in enrollment, budget problems, and other issues (leading to what Keene State called right-sizing).
Right Sizing
Treadwell has been at the helm since 2017 (right-sizing was circa 2019), and in the years since, KSC has seen some improvements.
Treadwell, who has led the college since 2017, described a financial environment that has grown increasingly difficult. When she stepped into the presidency, Keene State was already dealing with a nearly $19 million deficit. Now, recent state budget decisions have further squeezed resources, with lawmakers cutting $29 million from the University System of New Hampshire, which includes UNH, Plymouth State, and Keene State. New Hampshire, she noted, already ranks last in the nation for public funding of higher education.
Treadwell has managed to fill some holes with the help of alumni/donors. Still, suppose the legislature can’t see the value of investing other people’s money in endeavors like Keene State (according to folks like Treadwell). In that case, it will likely continue to face fiscal challenges.[Related: The Snowflake Meltdown Blast Radius Is Proportional to the Area of the Campus Culture Squared.]
Treadwell was cautious on the subject of state funding, never acting accusatory, but the air of entitlement was evident to my ear. Words like “investment” and “return” were common. She pointed out how certain internships resulted in up to 75% of the students who participated staying in New Hampshire. Later, she observes that 43% of all KSC graduates choose to stay in New Hampshire.
At no point did I hear (and I might have missed it) how many of the roughly 3000-ish students were from New Hampshire to begin with. My cynical self thinks it’s likely higher than 43% meaning Keene State’s retention value isn’t as positive as we might be led to believe.
But what if it is?
Other People’s Money
I have no particular interest in grinding that axe when the large fish we must fry is why everyone thinks taxpayers have an obligation to fund colleges and universities at all for any reason or benefit (real or imagined)? The state attracts the university in the same way it would any other business, leaving the college or University to create value and compete for tuition-paying students. This strikes me as the sort of situation that might force the board and administrators to manage the ‘business’ better.
This isn’t that.
Nov. 2023 – Faculty Fellow Team Appointed, Tasked With Multi-Dimensional DEI-Themed Action Plan
June 2024 – Commitment To Culture Is Multidimensional, And A Cornerstone Of A Keene State Education
The Cultural Center houses the College’s Office of Student Diversity, Belonging, and Equity. It holds social and educational programs and offers support, advocacy, and consultation for students, faculty, and staff.
The office of student diversity, belonging, and equity? I bet you could teach most, if not all, of your academic paths without that. (Pro-Tip: capable graduates have managed to contribute to society without it for millennia).
I should also remind everyone that the fastest path to “protecting intellectual and academic freedom” is to cut the public funding umbilical that obligates you to answer to stupid taxpayers, capricious legislators, or suffer the burdensome limitation on white tower tyranny represented in our state and Federal constitutions.
In my opinion, anything short of a 100% reduction in taxpayer money is insufficient. If these operations cannot generate enough revenue to cover their expenses, then the problem lies with their business model and its leadership.
If you’d genuinely like to get the horse back in front of the cart, imagine a scenario where you have to sell something that people want to pay for, which will finance the expenses required to provide it.
As for the matter of retaining graduates within New Hampshire’s borders, I’ll pass. We’ve got quite enough Democrats trying to ruin the New Hampshire advantage already. That includes the out-of-state Keene College kids who vote here instead of the out-of-state address where the invoice for their tuition goes, who then leave us holding the bill for whatever left-wing nuttery they supported, often thanks to brainwashing by your professors and administrators.
