CFO Insights

Recession—the most frightening word looming over the economic framework of higher education. A word that means cutbacks, layoffs, and lowered enrollment for every institution across the country. There is no way to predict with 100% accuracy when a recession will occur, which makes strategic planning around this prediction futile.

Increased competition among private colleges and universities has driven many to take proactive measures to ensure their long-term viability.

Chapman modeled the outcome of annually investing a portion of its operating income in to a fund used to cover major repair and renewal, as well as a portion to increase the size of its endowment. After implementation, this strategy has allowed Chapman to grow the market value of its endowment from $134 million to $392 million over the last decade as of FY 2018. Harold W.Hewitt Jr., Chief Operating Offi¬cer explains, “We have been able to take our endowment from roughly eight percent true, or restricted and inaccessible, and we have flipped that ratio to about 50 percent liquid.” The University’s liquidity is significant for credit evaluations and allows for a readily accessible portfolio of cash, made possible through analysis and optimization in Synario™.