HCS Blog

In higher education, the term 'merger' can have a whiff of a funeral. It's often whispered in the context of crisis -- of a small institution on life support or as a last-minute Hail Mary when closure is imminent. But every now and then, we get to see something different: a merger born not of desperation but of vision.

That’s why the recent merger of the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) and the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio deserves attention. I’ll go so far as to call it the GOAT of higher ed mergers. Not necessarily the greatest of all time, but a model merger — the ideal example of what happens when two strong, mission-complementary institutions come together to create something much more powerful than they could ever be alone.

Higher education has remained one of the last major industries to resist widespread consolidation — even while facing mounting financial, demographic, and competitive pressures.

Higher Ed Consolidation Solutions (HCS), a national consultancy focused on strategic transformation in higher education, has launched a new service offering: Academic Portfolio Realignment & Growth. This service helps institutions proactively assess and align their academic offerings to better serve students, support mission fulfillment, and ensure long-term sustainability.

Higher Ed Consolidation Solutions (HCS) is expanding its team and services to meet rising demand from colleges and universities seeking expert guidance during a time of unprecedented change in higher education. As institutions increasingly explore affiliations, shared services, governance changes, or full-scale mergers, HCS is growing to provide even deeper strategic support and operational insight.

Higher Ed Consolidation Solutions (HCS), a leading advisor on mergers and acquisitions in higher education, today announced the launch of its new practice in Affiliations and Shared Services. This resource is designed to assist colleges and universities in exploring and implementing collaborative partnerships, including shared services and academic program affiliations, to enhance institutional sustainability and effectiveness.

Higher Ed Consolidation Solutions (HCS) is excited to introduce its new “Merger Runway” service in response to the rapidly changing challenges faced by higher education institutions. This service is designed to assist college leaders and boards in strategically evaluating their readiness for potential mergers, acquisitions, or affiliations. We aim to ensure long-term sustainability for institutions while effectively serving their students.

As colleges grapple with declining revenues, growing deficits, and mounting financial pressures, many explore mergers or affiliations as potential lifelines for sustaining their missions and maintaining academic offerings. To effectively assess these options, institutions must clearly understand their current financial position and the time available to act—often dictated by cash flow. Conducting a merger runway analysis enables colleges to gauge how much time and money they have to execute strategic options. This analysis allows leadership to quickly eliminate seemingly attractive but ultimately unviable paths and focus on actionable solutions that align with their financial reality.

Higher education institutions face various challenges, from declining enrollment to sustainability pressures. With its newly launched training programs, Higher Ed Consolidation Solutions (HCS) equips presidents, cabinet members, and boards of trustees with the tools and knowledge needed to successfully navigate merger, acquisition, affiliation, and consolidation opportunities.

“Our trustee and leadership training goes beyond the basics,” said Dr. Brian Weinblatt, HCS Founder and Principal. “We focus on the critical issues boards face today, providing actionable insights and strategies tailored to their institution’s unique needs. This is about ensuring trustees are prepared to lead strategically and precisely.”

Higher Ed Consolidation Solutions (HCS), the leading full-service higher education merger consultancy, is announcing the launch of its Teach-Out Planning services.