Trinity president puts Hartford at center of growth plan

The strategy

Trinity College’s president is pursuing a growth strategy built around the college’s place in Hartford. The approach comes as colleges confront an enrollment cliff, a period when the number of prospective traditional college-age students is expected to decline.

The central question is how Trinity can grow while the broader pool of students becomes more competitive. The college’s direction connects its future to Hartford rather than treating the city only as the setting for its campus.

Hartford focus

The strategy makes Hartford part of the college’s growth case. That places attention on the relationship between Trinity and the city, including how the institution presents its location as it seeks to expand.

The approach also gives Hartford a larger role in the college’s planning. Trinity’s president is positioning the city and the college’s growth plans together as the institution responds to changing conditions in higher education.

Enrollment pressure

The enrollment cliff is the backdrop for the strategy. A smaller pool of prospective students can increase competition among colleges and make enrollment planning more important.

Trinity’s response, as described by its president, is to play offense through growth and a stronger Hartford focus. The college’s plan will be measured by the decisions it makes and by how it carries out that direction as enrollment conditions change.