In his latest blog post for “At a Slight Angle,” Robin Capehart, former college president and seasoned academic administrator, sheds light on a pressing issue facing colleges and universities across the United States: deferred maintenance. With the backlog of necessary repairs and upkeep exceeding $112 billion, Capehart emphasizes the critical link between a college’s physical infrastructure and its financial health.
Capehart draws on his extensive experience visiting and leading educational institutions, noting that the physical state of a campus often reflects its financial priorities. Many colleges, particularly those struggling with enrollment and funding, have increasingly shifted their limited resources toward operational costs at the expense of essential maintenance. This trend leads to visible signs of neglect, from peeling paint to outdated facilities, ultimately undermining the educational environment.
“Deferred maintenance is more than just an aesthetic issue; it speaks volumes about an institution’s health and priorities,” Capehart explains. “As colleges prioritize immediate operational needs over long-term infrastructure investments, they create a cycle of neglect that threatens their sustainability.”
In his blog, Capehart identifies common characteristics shared by institutions facing maintenance backlogs, including declining enrollment and a reliance on state funding. He advocates for a balanced approach to address these challenges, calling for both institutional reforms and state-level accountability.
Key recommendations from Capehart’s post include:
– Reducing Administrative Costs: Institutions should streamline operations to redirect funds toward maintenance.
– Enhancing Public-Private Partnerships (P3s): Collaborations with private entities can fund necessary repairs and upgrades.
– Tying State Funding to Accountability: States must hold colleges accountable for their maintenance backlogs as a condition for receiving financial support.
Capehart’s insights provide a roadmap for colleges and states to confront this systemic issue, ensuring that educational environments remain conducive to student success and safety.
To read the full blog post and explore Capehart’s recommendations, visit At a Slight Angle.