Executive Leadership Change on the Hilltop

[tomahawk chop]

When I was a freshman and Joe Stowell was the coach, a lot of students attended, but I didn’t care that much and rarely went to a game. I slowly developed an appreciation for the player’s talent and how much work it took for the team to improve. I still believe that if a core group of students will attend and there are incentives to attract others, student attendance can improve.

The funny thing about the students attending issue is they all showed up for the championship game and then rushed the floor and celebrated with the team after their big win. Where were most of them during the season because there was probably only an ave of 50 a game. Whatever promotions they did to sell out the arena need to be done more for every game.

[patrick_o'brian]

Stop paying outrageous rent to Carver Arena and invest in Renaissance Coliseum for Men’s basketball. The dollar figure they pay for rent plus the money not received on concessions is ridiculous. Unless it’s changed and a stipend is now given, Bradley saves a ton of money with volunteer game management people. Clock, scoreboard, etc. Also, bringing back the Phys Ed major wouldn’t hurt things either.

The marketing aspect is huge though. To hear the stories of suburban kids not even mentioning BU in the college plans is inexcusable and directly attributed to the JG era.

Tuition cost is not competitive either. It’s too high for what’s offered. Also, the State of our State has a lot to do with it. Who wants to go to a high tuition college in Illinois when you’ll most likely be moving out of state to seek employment and have a higher cost of living?

[PhiAlphaBoy]

Well said POB, though I disagree on your high tuition statement. I think Bradley has done a pretty good job of limiting tuition increases and offers a reasonable and competitive tuition rate. My son was able to attend Bradley for the same or less net tuition as our state schools (I'm not in Illinois) and at a lower net tuition compared to the other private schools he was accepted in to.

[Bradley8792]

My son was able to attend Bradley for the same or less net tuition as our state schools (I'm not in Illinois) and at a lower net tuition compared to the other private schools he was accepted in to.

Agreed. Any prospective students with good grades and test scores will qualify for some very generous scholarships.

[Old Coach]

Stop paying outrageous rent to Carver Arena and invest in Renaissance Coliseum for Men’s basketball. The dollar figure they pay for rent plus the money not received on concessions is ridiculous. Unless it’s changed and a stipend is now given, Bradley saves a ton of money with volunteer game management people. Clock, scoreboard, etc. Also, bringing back the Phys Ed major wouldn’t hurt things either.

The marketing aspect is huge though. To hear the stories of suburban kids not even mentioning BU in the college plans is inexcusable and directly attributed to the JG era.

Tuition cost is not competitive either. It’s too high for what’s offered. Also, the State of our State has a lot to do with it. Who wants to go to a high tuition college in Illinois when you’ll most likely be moving out of state to seek employment and have a higher cost of living?

Glasser's desire to recruit so heavily on the east coast was definitely misguided. That said, she's been gone for 8 years and 3 presidents (an interim and 2 permanent) have had the chance to aggressively change direction and haven't. There's an overtly progressive agenda that has been strictly adhered to for at least 5 years.

[BUfan17]

As others have said Bradley's tuition is actually very comparable to other Illinois schools once you factor in scholarships (assuming you are a decent student).

The bigger problem is that college tuition as whole in the United States is way too high and has been increasing much higher than inflation for decades now. The old advice used to be that "go to college, doesn't matter the degree". I think the younger generations have found this not to be true and are now generally more reluctant to go to college. The cost just isn't worth it if college doesn't set you up for a well paying career.

I think higher education in general is in for a rough decade ahead. The costs are just so high and the outcomes so low for some programs that the demand has been dropping. I think Bradley and most other decent sized D1 schools will handle it with some budget cuts, but I wouldn't be surprised if some smaller schools are forced to shut down.

[JMM28]

Why is Bradley’s VP of legal not living in Peoria, making $200k+++, and showing BU as one of 3 jobs she currently holds on LinkedIn?

Why is someone in a VP level job allowed to moonlight? She’s not the only one doing so and it’s not a secret whatsoever.

Why is anyone in a VP/Dean role not expected to work on campus 5 days a week and live in Peoria?

[Da Coach]

Good question. Don't know. Is this normal?
She is listed as a partner in a Wisconsin law firm, and on the faculty at University of Wisconsin.
She doesn't seem to be hiding anything.
https://www.bradley.edu/offices/pres...legal-affairs/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/erin-kastberg-950a705

https://www.stranglawllc.com/our-people/erin-kastberg

https://secure.law.wisc.edu/profiles/kastberg@wisc.edu

Is she involved in any of the NIL stuff? Title IX?

[molar50]

It seems like there could be a Bradley alum with a law degree, living in the Peoria area that could provide services as needed.

[Bradley8792]

Why is Bradley’s VP of legal not living in Peoria, making $200k+++, and showing BU as one of 3 jobs she currently holds on LinkedIn?

Why is someone in a VP level job allowed to moonlight? She’s not the only one doing so and it’s not a secret whatsoever.

Why is anyone in a VP/Dean role not expected to work on campus 5 days a week and live in Peoria?

I think this can be normal for legal representation. I think the real legal services are probably provided by a firm, not just an individual.

[Old Coach]

I think this can be normal for legal representation. I think the real legal services are probably provided by a firm, not just an individual.

She was initially hired to be full-time legal counsel for the university at a time when everything was previously being done on a retainer fee. At one time she was here on a permanent basis, but that has seemingly changed. As was pointed out, she is one of 3 or 4 C-level/VPs (including the recently departed COO/CFO) who didn't live or work in Peoria, or are working additional side hustles to their very lucrative Bradley incomes. If I was paying a VP $175K-$250K, I would expect that they live in Peoria, and not have second (and third) jobs that require their time between 8a-5p, Monday-Friday.

[PhiAlphaBoy]

She was initially hired to be full-time legal counsel for the university at a time when everything was previously being done on a retainer fee. At one time she was here on a permanent basis, but that has seemingly changed. As was pointed out, she is one of 3 or 4 C-level/VPs (including the recently departed COO/CFO) who didn't live or work in Peoria, or are working additional side hustles to their very lucrative Bradley incomes. If I was paying a VP $175K-$250K, I would expect that they live in Peoria, and not have second (and third) jobs that require their time between 8a-5p, Monday-Friday.

It's possible that her salary changed after the job requirements changed, especially if JMM is getting the $200k figure from Bradley's tax filing which is usually a year or two in arrears. Most top attorneys charge a pretty high hourly fee ($250-500/hr) so I'm guessing that was how her pay was determined.

[JMM28]

It's possible that her salary changed after the job requirements changed, especially if JMM is getting the $200k figure from Bradley's tax filing which is usually a year or two in arrears. Most top attorneys charge a pretty high hourly fee ($250-500/hr) so I'm guessing that was how her pay was determined.

Old Coach is correct. She moved her family here in 2018 but apparently sold the home in 2021 to take on another job in Wisconsin, while retaining her six figure salary from BU.

The recently fired COO/CFO was allowed to work from Ohio for some unknown reason. I am sure her salary was $300k+.

Meanwhile, according to Standifird on the 4/20/23 BU senate meeting...

"Enrollment – The numbers are trending quite low. 1,020 is an estimate for enrollment (but we will not know until May 1st). We historically have been within 1% of estimates in the past. He will also have better enrollment numbers at the May Senate meeting. We already know that next year is going to be a rough year with respect to the budget." https://www.bradley.edu/academic/cio...2023-05-03.pdf


Must be nice to have the BU board of trustees as your bosses. Work part time, do very-below-average work, get another job or two, and kick back with very little oversight.

[bradleyfan124]

Old Coach is correct. She moved her family here in 2018 but apparently sold the home in 2021 to take on another job in Wisconsin, while retaining her six figure salary from BU.

The recently fired COO/CFO was allowed to work from Ohio for some unknown reason. I am sure her salary was $300k+.

Meanwhile, according to Standifird on the 4/20/23 BU senate meeting...

"Enrollment – The numbers are trending quite low. 1,020 is an estimate for enrollment (but we will not know until May 1st). We historically have been within 1% of estimates in the past. He will also have better enrollment numbers at the May Senate meeting. We already know that next year is going to be a rough year with respect to the budget." https://www.bradley.edu/academic/cio...2023-05-03.pdf


Must be nice to have the BU board of trustees as your bosses. Work part time, do very-below-average work, get another job or two, and kick back with very little oversight.

Yes And if they start cutting expenses I know what salaries to cut first

[PhiAlphaBoy]

This is just nuts JMM28. Bradley had better get their finances and act together fast... The clock is ticking.