Halftime for Heidelberg

The case follows President Rob Huntington as he seeks to find a viable way forward for Heidelberg University. Located in Tiffin, Ohio, Heidelberg is a small, private, four-year university. As with many similar institutions of higher education, it currently faces a daunting and mounting set of challenges, most of which stem from financial and demographic changes that are far beyond its control. During Huntington’s eleven-year tenure, the university has experimented with a number of efforts aimed at attracting and retaining students. But in 2019, with enrollment, retention, and graduation rates stagnating and the university once again running a deficit, Huntington must consider more drastic measures. What can he do to underscore the “Heidelberg difference” and ensure that the university survives? This case is available with supplemental videos which can be shared with students in advance, at the instructors’ discretion, or used in the classroom case discussion.