11 Comments
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Brad Barnett's avatar

I attended Lambuth College in Jackson TN., which closed in 2010. University of Memphis bought it and installed a satellite campus there, but when I drive through there now the “magic” feels dead.

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Ryan M Allen's avatar

Bummer. I hear that a lot about acquired and merged campuses.

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Carl Rossini Jr.'s avatar

I was a teacher, chair and advisor at The Art Institute of Dallas, and many of my former students are rising in their early or midcareers in advertising, animation, video, interior design, audio, and in culinary careers. Closed several years ago.

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Ryan M Allen's avatar

Seems those art institutes have been closing at crazy high rates!

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Carl Rossini Jr.'s avatar

The parent company (nominally non-profit) was EDMC, which collapsed after Covid. Argosy and all of the Art Institutes closed, and South University (named after its manager/owner, not the region of the country) survives. Sad that the AIs closed, they filled a nice niche, regional art schools that offered robust BFAs.

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Ryan M Allen's avatar

I should have a post soon on for-profit closures. Tons of those shells floating around.

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Dave's avatar

Here's one to keep an eye on. Limestone University in Gaffney, SC is closing down. Founded in 1845.

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John Pearson's avatar

Buildings have life cycles and after a 50-year life, it is no surprise that the economic and functional life has ended. Happens all the time. Land values change which explains the razing of the building.

For next week, review the chapter on highest and best use.

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Ryan M Allen's avatar

It is no surprise that buildings change use. Wrote all about it here: https://www.collegetowns.org/p/no-you-and-a-couple-of-friends-shouldnt?utm_source=publication-search

I am not sure what you mean on chapter review. I sort of suspect you might be a bot!

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John Pearson's avatar

Whether I’m a bot or not, you never quite say why colleges are failing and you’re conspicuously silent on:

The decline in student population and trends for the future

The cost of attending college

The decline in SAT scores

The anticipated decline in Federal and State funding, regardless of politics

Poor financial reporting, a la University of Arizona - It’s probably the tip of the iceberg

Why small college towns rarely recover from a college failure

And then there’s the lack of real estate savvy:

No comment on the economic life of specialized buildings

What happens when the land value as if vacant exceeds the value in the existing condition

No real in-depth case studies

Yes I’m a bot. Work harder and smarter

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Ryan M Allen's avatar

I am more interested in you being a bot now. Seemingly a good bot at pulling info, kind of like a better Google. Just still bad at understanding how articles, or even how human interactions, work. Fascinating! I wonder if you will get those things eventually. My guess is yes. Thanks for dropping in, bot!

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