Inside College Mergers: Stories from the Front Lines

While the specter of closure looms over many colleges and universities, mergers can offer a pathway to success and growth. In , editor Mark La Branche offers firsthand accounts of how he and six other college and university leaders embarked on transformative journeys to preserve, sustain, expand, and enhance their institutions' missions. The nuanced circumstances, responses, and outcomes that shape the merger landscape reveal practical insights to guide your own institution's journey. Through personal experiences and lessons in leadership, each chapter author shares their institution's unique journey, offering valuable insights for those considering mergers, acquisitions, or partnerships. These contributors share tactical strategies for decision-making and delve into the philosophy of leadership, providing a trove of wisdom for all leaders in higher education. With predictions of college closures looming, it is imperative for institutions to explore options beyond traditional boundaries. Designed for presidents, provosts, chancellors, trustees, and aspiring higher education leaders, this book serves as a rare playbook, showcasing successful mergers, pitfalls to avoid, and the critical evaluation of institutional missions that mergers can catalyze. is an essential guide for shaping the future of higher education through strategic collaborations. Contributors: Paul Baldasare Jr. on St. Andrews Presbyterian College, Mary L. Churchill on Wheelock College, Robert E. Clark II on Wesley College, Mablene Krueger on Robert Morris University Illinois, Mark La Branche on Martin Methodist College, Paul J. Maurer on Montreat College, Christine Plunkett on Iowa Wesleyan University