THE PATH TO SUSTAINABILITY

STEP 1

Cut Administrative Bloat

Despite declaring a financial emergency, Hillman continued to increase administrative spending until it exceeded all other budgets. Shockingly, Mills’ administrative spending in 2021 was $6.2 million higher than it was in 2016. Just by reducing Mills’ excessive spending on Administration alone, Mills would free up enough cash to balance the budget, create a financial cushion, and allow Mills to invest more in its faculty, instruction, and student services.

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STEP 2
Rebuild Enrollment

The cause of the drop in admissions is very simple and easy to fix. It occurred over the course of one year (2014), when the administration decided to levy a $50 application fee and added several essay questions as prerequisites to apply, unlike the majority of other colleges. In a highly competitive market, this hurt Mills College’s enrollment and was never corrected. Simple solution: Drop the $50 fee and added essay questions.

Hillman also drastically changed Mills’ traditional recruiting, which had included national and international students, to one that focused just on local schools. Rebuilding Mills’ enrollment means returning to a sustainable recruiting model that works.

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STEP 3
Boost Alumnae Fundraising & Recruitment

Previously, the alumnae organization actively assisted the College in fundraising and recruitment, which created a level of success, engagement and stability for Mills. But the College took away these responsibilities, which cost the College over time. Restoring a cooperative relationship between alumnae and the College is essential. Alumnae are major givers to the college and its greatest fans. Put that to work!

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STEP 4
End Sweetheart Deals

Outside contracts are a critical area requiring proper oversight. Mills currently has an excessive number of contractors who are paid $100,000 and more, compared to its peers.
An example of this overspending is in the food service contract. Mills is paying $4M annually for food services that used to cost $1.6M in-house, and spends over double what a neighboring college does on its contract. Proper oversight on contract spending would save the College millions each year.

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The next step is to invest in students, faculty and staff, and restore shared governance and key relationships.

 

STEP 5

Support Students

The real benefit of controlling spending isn’t saving money, it’s to better serve the mission of the College and its students. Students have endured the college's self-inflicted crisis over the past year. With freed up revenue, we can restore support for students who continue to choose to stay and pursue their degrees at Mills, as well as provide a safe, engaging and supportive campus environment for Mills students in the future.

 

STEP 2
Shared Governance

Trust and relationships have suffered under the prior administration. A primary goal is to restore good relations and trust with faculty, staff and other stakeholders, and to provide transparency and create checks and balances to prevent abuse of power in the future. This means creating equal numbers of voting Board seats for faculty, staff, students and alums, and giving each group authority to select its Board members.

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STEP 7
Invest in Teaching

Reducing unnecessary spending will balance the budget and leave a surplus to invest where it matters - in the classroom. According to studies, improving teacher quality has the greatest impact on positive student outcomes - and the success of the college.

Input from students, faculty, staff, parents, alumnae, and other stakeholders can re-envision the curriculum to focus on areas that are most relevant to 21st-century problems and opportunities.

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STEP 8
Community Engagement

Mills is a tremendous environmental and natural resource for the surrounding community. As one of the largest inner-city campuses in the United States, its parklike environment provides a crucial and nurturing safe space and access to nature. We will nurture and expand community relationships, and partner with local and national organizations to promote social and environmental justice and access.