Align Academic Portfolios with Mission, Market, and Margin
The Casagrande Institute for Higher Education Effectiveness provides specialized consulting services that help colleges and universities realign their academic offerings with institutional mission, student demand, and financial reality. Our Academic Program Mix Analysis distills complex enrollment, cost, and revenue data into a clear, actionable roadmap that empowers leaders to safeguard resources, nurture high-value programs, and reshape or sunset offerings that no longer serve students or the institution.
Value of Academic Program Mix Evaluation
Demographic shifts, intensified competition, and heightened accountability place unprecedented pressure on academic portfolios. Programs that once fueled growth can quietly erode margins, while emerging disciplines may create new pathways if recognized early. A disciplined, data-informed review of program cost, demand, and strategic fit equips presidents, provosts, and faculty to understand where surplus is generated, where resources are absorbed, and how mission-critical and revenue-positive programs can coexist in balance
Our Approach
- We begin with a comprehensive financial analysis of actual costs, revenues, and margins to determine the true contribution (or draw) of every course and program.
- Then, our assessment of student interest examines prospective-student inquiries (demand) and graduate completions (yield) to capture both external and internal enthusiasm for each program.
- Finally, we translate our findings into action-oriented recommendations to streamline low-demand and high-cost programs, refine high-cost but mission-essential offerings, and reinvest in areas where student interest and financial performance converge.
Throughout the process, we engage administrators and faculty collaboratively to enhance transparency and shared ownership of the analysis and its implications. Our team brings decades of academic experience and a clear understanding that portfolio decisions must be grounded in a combination of mission alignment, market realities, and margin considerations.
Complete Analyses Within a Semester
|
Phase |
Activities |
Duration* |
|---|---|---|
| Initial Consultation | Clarify goals, data availability, and stakeholder expectations | 1 week |
| Data Collection | Partner with institutional data teams to gather two years of academic and financial data | 2 weeks |
| Analysis | Conduct course- and program-level cost modeling, enrollment trend analysis, and program-mix matrix creation | 4 weeks |
| Institutional Review | Present preliminary findings to campus experts for validation and refinement | 2 weeks |
| Final Report & Roadmap | Deliver a comprehensive report with prioritized recommendations, KPIs, and implementation timelines | 1 week |
| Ongoing Support (optional) | Coaching, progress check-ins, and refresh analyses as the market evolves |
As needed |
* Timeline is typical but can vary based on institutional complexity and availability of internal data.
Benefits to Your Institution
-
Clear, evidence-based portfolio decisions
-
Strategic resource allocation to align mission, market, and margin
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Improved net margins to support institutional priorities
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Campus-wide consensus built on transparent, objective data
Reach out for a conversation when it's time to optimize your academic program portfolio for a sustainable future.
Contact Us
David J. Bauer, Ph.D.
Director, Casagrande Institute for Higher Education Effectiveness
djbauer@viterbo.edu
608-796-3617