Customer Reviews

Transforming a College: The Story of a Little-Known College's Strategic Climb to National Distinction

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

For a parent -- whose son goes to Elon University (Class of '08) -- this is a fascinating read. It should be very interesting (required reading?) for any private college administrator, potential student/parent, or major donor (it desperately needs to build endowment). Last year there were 9,000 applicants for a Freshman class of 1,200. Elon is indeed a former "hidden gem" college that has definitely ARRIVED!

Keller's book is helpful for those who work in an academic setting. The principles learned and steps taken in this case study can also be instructive for anyone involved in any enterprise.

This book describes the transformation of Elon College in North Carolina from a "small, unattractive, parochial bottom-feeder" on the brink of fading away to an acclaimed liberal arts university with a reputation for teaching excellence, a beautiful campus, dedicated alumni, and a healthy endowment. A story of a sequence of leaders with a vision, and how they brought about the change. Short, readable, and memorable lessons

This book is a little gem, like the university it is about. As a college and career coach, I am recommending this book to my clients.

George Keller, a prominent educational strategist, tells the story of Elon's meteoric rise over the past forty years from a small, very regional North Carolina college to a "hot", sought-after university with a national reputation, viewed as a model of hands-on student-oriented learning. I was utterly amazed by the vision and determination of Elon's administrators, trustees, alumni and faculty to create such radical change in an educational institution.

This book certainly should be read by any parents or students interested in Elon University. But it also offers a broader message to families of college-bound students: Educational institutions, like all organizations, are not static, but are moving targets. They are growing, maintenancing, stagnating, or dying, but they are not standing still.

That said, one can never freeze a college in time. Parents need to update their views on colleges to help support their children's choices. A college that was accessible to above-average students "back in the day" may be out of reach today, because of baby-boomlet compeitition. A college that was not even on our generation's radar screen may be a rising star today.

One such rising star is Elon University, whose story is told so compellingly by George Keller.

Kris Hintz, Position U 4 College LLC