November 17, 2009

The great imbalance

When colleges and universities are in a major bind for funding, they often upgrade and expand facilities in the hope that these new "field of dreams" will grow fan base and subsequent income. Some of the more enlightened in th group actually budget money to fill the seats. The others wait. That decision always proves to be painful. Filling these new palaces in advance for multiple years must be done when they are new. Otherwise it just costs a lot more. The same principle is in effect when solving chronic attendance problems. A lot pf the leadership does band-aid work or spends money on expensive consulting analysis that offers no solutions. In the end, if you spend it, they will come. If you don't, they won't!