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defined by their local presence with limited regional appeal, and the friction created
by the city-vs.-Main Line dichotomy was quite real.
Today, things are different. U.S. News and World Report has Villanova tied
for 49th among national colleges, a
list that also includes the University of Pennsylvania at ninth overall. Meanwhile, Saint Joe’s is ranked 12th among northern regional universities, a much more
tightly defined grouping. Villanova has
an acceptance rate of 27 percent, while Saint Joe’s is 75. Recent construction has increased Nova’s curb appeal, much of it funded by a capital campaign that raised
a staggering $759 million. Saint Joe’s, meanwhile, is about to execute a more modest strategic plan designed to bolster its footprint. The school has managed to increase its endowment from $200 to $300 million in five years, according to Reed, who understands the circumstances and doesn’t hide from them. “I have fun with it,” he says. “The rivalry piece is fun.”
When it comes to the future, Saint Joseph’s University may be in same boat as
the region’s other Catholic institutions—barring Villanova. At a time when higher education is more competitive than ever, it’s largely unfeasible that smaller independent schools like Rosemont and Chestnut Hill colleges, not to mention Gwynedd Mercy, Neumann, Cabrini, Immaculata and Holy Family universities, will survive in their current forms. Some might close; others could merge. “Do I think there will be a shakeout? The easy answer is to say ‘yes,’” says Reed. “I do believe the answer is yes. And I think it’s already happening.”
For Reed, it’s crucial to stay focused. “We look at opportunities, and we
look at our strategic plan. What does our strategic plan call us to do? Focus on, first and foremost, our academic quality and the experience we provide. From there, it moves into the student experience, and is the student experience truly delivering on what we say we are and what we provide. Does this provide the value that we articulate?”
And what of the debate over the importance of athletics to a university’s success? Some adhere to the “front porch” stance, which suggests that successful sports programs bring eyes to the school and boost admissions. Others believe athletics can be continued on page 88
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