The Rocket Nation Blog

Rocket Nation Recovery Part 59 - - "Cleveland State University said every area of the school will participate in closing a projected $40 million budget shortfall — including athletics." Is it true that UToledo is ranked 9th by the State of Ohio's Chancellors office,...

Rocket Nation Recovery Part 58 - UToledo Update Is it true that the: Number of direct from high school students registered for Fall 2024 orientation programs in June and July are down by 25% from last year? UT Hospital recently lost yet another one of its large...

Rocket Nation Recovery Part 57 - "sometimes silence is the best answer" This is great wisdom from the Dalai Lama! But sometimes silence speaks volumes. In the case of UToledo leadership and trustees it seems that silence is both the answer and speaking volumes,...

Rocket Nation Recovery Part 56 - In September 2023, the Part 11 post highlighted the negative economic impact the UToledo enrollment, financial and morale crisis is having on the Northwest Ohio business community....

Rocket Nation Recovery Part 55 - Are you confused by the situation at the UToledo hospital, physician group and medical college? Some people at the hospital are stating that financial stability has been reached and the hospital has been saved. While others state that...

Rocket Nation Recovery Part 54 - Last Wednesday UToledo trustees held their February board meeting. Much time was spent in executive session with trustees beginning to ask questions. A line of questions that flustered UT leaders. Was this a small, but positive step...

Rocket Nation Recovery Part 53 - With the UToledo Provost search put on hold, what's next? If you were a trustee, what would you do next knowing that UT:  President's contract expires in June 2025? Interim Provosts contract expires in June 2025? Interim VP Enrollment...

Rocket Nation Recovery Part 52 - Breaking News and Question Answered - UToledo Provost search has been cancelled. Interim Provost Scott Molitor's contract extended until June 2025. Congratulations to Dr. Postel and UT Trustees for making an ethical choice to make the...

Rocket Nation Recovery Part 51 - "Thousands converge on BGSU campus for Presidents Day Open House" read a local newspaper headline. Thousands of pictures are circulating on Facebook, X and LinkedIn of President Rodney Rogers personally welcoming potential students and...

Rocket Nation Recovery Part 50 - UToledo Cutting Degree Programs Over the past few days Toledo area news outlets have picked up last week's story about UT "cutting degree programs" press release. See Part 45 post. WTOL...

Rocket Nation Recovery Part 49 - Perception Survey Please take a few moments to let UToledo leadership and trustees know how you feel. UT has hired BVK, a full service advertising agency in Milwaukee to conduct the survey....

 Rocket Nation Recovery 48 - UToledo Spring 2024 Enrollment If you were a trustee, would you want to know if the information below is true? Spring 2024 Total Enrollment = 13, 951 Forecast May Graduation = 2,000 Forecast Non-Retuning Students for Fall 2024 = 400...

Rocket Nation Recovery Part 46 - Many rumors have spread about The UToledo Medical Center (hospital). What is fact vs. fiction? What is blind hope vs. stark reality? A number of current and former UTMC executives shed light on key questions to consider. Is it true...

Rocket Nation Recovery Part 47 - A comparison of Central Michigan University vs. UToledo leadership. One is an example of immense courage and selflessness. A demonstration of putting institution and communities best interest over oneself. An action that creates...

Rocket Nation Recovery Part 45 - Is it true that the UToledo academic portfolio and course inventory cuts announced yesterday: Were part of a report prepared in August 2023 but not implemented? Have virtually no students enrolled in them? Have no impact on the...

Rocket Nation Recovery Part 44 - A Question of Ethics The UToledo Provost search is about to end. Faculty, staff, students, and trustees are meeting with the final two candidates. There seems to be a consensus that both candidates are nice people with solid academic...

Rocket Nation Recovery Part 43 - With Spring 2023 enrollment numbers down, cash running out, and a failed Provost search has UToledo reached a culminating point? Is the crisis turning into a disaster? This week, two finalists for Provost are making the rounds. Is it...

Happy New Year! Over the past six weeks hundreds of messages have flowed in about the UToledo enrollment, financial and morale crisis. The depth of the disconnect between senior leadership and middle management about the direction of the university is stunning. After...

Rocket Nation Recovery Part 41 - great article. Yes, history shows that when UToledo Football appears on national TV website visits, inquiries, and enrollment applications go up....

Rocket Nation Recovery Part 40 - insightful message from a UToledo alum from New York. "I've been following the questions your posts have raised about UT since July. It made me think about what The Rocket Nation should expect from our next leader. If I were a trustee,...

Rocket Nation Recovery Part 39 - In Part 6 the concept of being uncomfortable with the questions being raised about UToledo was discussed. https://rocketnetworker.com/2023/10/07/rocket-nation-recovery-part-6/ A prominent CEO prompted that post when they suggested...

Rocket Nation Recovery Part 38a - one of the questions raised in yesterday's post has been answered. Question 5 - Provost Search - is it true that the UT employee leading the Provost search lives in South Carolina? If true, does this mean there are no candidates with...

Rocket Nation Recovery Part 38 - are the wheels turning at UToledo? 1. Enrollment Census Report - is It true that UT changed their enrollment policy early this year to enable students to register for multiple semesters at once? If true, what impact did this have on...

Rocket Nation Recovery Part 37 - yesterday's rivalry game between UToledo and BGSU was awesome! Congratulations to the players, coaching staff and Coach Candle for navigating a rough night to a great win! Thank you for fighting for UToledo!! With each snap of the...

Rocket Nation Recovery Part 36 - UT faculty union leaders response to UT leaders (https://rocketnetworker.com/2023/10/07/rocket-nation-recovery-part-30/) If you were a trustee how would you respond? "President Postel opened his rebuttal letter of September 27, 2023 by...

Rocket Nation Recovery Part 35 - Election Day Many serious issues face voters on Tuesday. Issues 1, 2, and 3, school board members, judges, council members, etc. So, please vote!! But for The Rocket Nation the real question is which hat should we wear to support the...

Rocket Nation Recovery Part 34 - - update and a heartfelt message received from a UToledo alum and long-time business leader. Update - the UToledo board of trustees held yet another emergency meeting earlier this week to discuss the future direction of the...

Rocket Nation Recover Part 33 - A few weeks ago the Part 25 post shared a message from a department chair at UToledo. https://rocketnetworker.com/2023/10/07/rocket-nation-recovery-part-25/ The message below is from another department chair in response to a question in...

Rocket Nation Recovery Part 32 - since July over fifty posts have been shared with questions about the UToledo enrollment, financial and morale crisis. Every day messages stream in requesting a central place to see all of the posts. My apology for the delay! You can...

Rocket Nation Recovery Part 31 - UToledo Enrollment Update. In June 2023 UToledo Leaders and Trustees extended the contract of the Interim Vice President of Enrollment Management until December 31, 2023. The contract was renewed after 24-months of serving as the...

Rocket Nation Recover Part 30 - UToledo Homecoming 2023 was awesome! Congrats to the students, staff, faculty, administrators, and leadership for a job well done! With Homecoming behind us and year four well underway, it's time to return to the reality of the...

Rocket Nation Recovery #29 - Interesting perspective on UToledo. https://lnkd.in/gwsG95eh Is this article suggesting that an enrollment, financial and morale crisis has been underway at UToledo since 2010? The UToledo 2017 - 2022 five year plan called for a...

Rocket Nation Recover Part 28 - headlines for an interesting day ahead at UToledo: 1. The Board of Trustees meets after uneventful sub-committee meetings on Monday. Their last planned meeting is December 6th - - interesting meeting day choice. 2. UT Interim Vice...

Rocket Nation Recovery Part 27 - "President Rodney Rogers Contract Extended Until 2028, Gifts $77,000 Performance Bonus For The Fifth Straight Year To Support Student Success At BGSU". https://lnkd.in/g4Tq9PQt If you were a UToledo trustee, how would you interpret...

Rocket Nation Recovery Part 26 - as a forward looking UToledo trustee, how would you interpret yesterday's Leadership Letter To The Editor? Would you interpret this as the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth? Or a narrative to spin partial truths to...

Rocket Nation Recovery Part 25 - thank you UToledo Deans, Administrators, Faculty and Staff for your messages! Your message below summarizes one consistent theme. "People are willing to pay for things of value. In other words, people will pay a high price for a great...

Rocket Nation Recovery #24 - Thank you for the insights and questions about Grand Valley State University. A couple of your questions caught my eye . "Is it possible that UToledo is losing direct from high school students to Grand Valley State University? As a forward...

Rocket Nation Recovery Part #23 - it's important that we celebrate when UToledo has a win - - as an institution, in academics, in research, with students, in sports, with alumni, and all other wins. UToledo moving up from 285 to 280 in the national university rankings...

Rocket Nation Recovery #22 - If you were a trustee preparing for the September 27th board meeting, would you expect a discussion about how UToledo's Fall 2023 Enrollment results compared to other urban universities? Would you start the conversation by establishing a...

Rocket Nation Recovery Part #21 - Interesting spin on the Fall 2023 UToledo enrollment numbers and graduation rates. What's your take on the message? https://lnkd.in/gCDBRezH If you were a trustee reading this press release and preparing for the September 27th board...

Rocket Nation - great to see fellow UToledo alum Jack Kosakowski and the Junior Achievement Team working with the Carlson School of Business at the University of Minnesota! Would be great to have Jack stop by his alma mater for a leadership program! Maybe he should be...

Rocket Nation Recovery Part #20 - big win for The Rockets on Saturday. Congrats to Brian Blair and his team for a great game day experience. Kudos to Coach Candle and the team for a job well done! Will UToledo leadership score a big win with this week's enrollment...

Rocket Nation Recovery Part #19 - the Interim Provost over the past year has been let go. Dr. Scott Molitor has been named Interim Provost. Scott has 20+ years at UToledo, lives in the community, and can hit the ground running. https://lnkd.in/g6Px2mbp While this is a...

Rocket Nation Enrollment Fall 2024 - - this is positive news to celebrate! Great to see UToledo enrollment reaching out to engage alums in the all hands on deck effort to bring 3,000 to 4,000 new students to UToledo in Fall 2024! Recommend that you bring your high...

Rocket Nation Recovery Part 17 - with last week's board of trustees 2-day retreat complete and the Labor Day Holiday Weekend behind us, will it be back to business as usual for UToledo leadership? Or did the board of trustees decide to change its vision and strategic...

Rocket Nation Fun Photo Friday - - while doing research in support of the Metro NYC Alumni Chapter I came across this photo from September 6, 2006. A joint meeting with the UToledo Enrollment leadership team across the street from Radio City Music Hall. This meeting...

Rocket Nation Recovery Part 16 - is it true that the UToledo board of trustees will meet for their summer retreat this week? As a trustee, before charting a future direction for UToledo would you want Wednesday and Thursday's meeting to: 1. Have UToledo leadership...

Rocket Nation Recover Part 15 - next week the UToledo board of trustees will meet for their summer retreat. If you were a trustee, would you expect the retreat to focus on short term steps to immediately address the enrollment, financial and morale crisis? Would you...

Rocket Nation Recovery Part 14 - week seven begins with UToledo leaders holding alumni meetings in Atlanta, a little over 1,000 students moving into the dorms, and the UToledo board of trustees planning for a summer strategic planning retreat during the first week of...

Rocket Nation Recovery Part 13 - UToledo enrollment census report. Thank you for all of the messages yesterday! You're asking great questions about the historic enrollment data. Yes, there is a great deal of confusion about the numbers. Here's a link to the official...

Rocket Nation Recovery Part 12 - another interesting story from The Blade.What does Bowling Green State University's record enrollment of 3,550 students mean to UToledo? Is it true that UToledo's first year students direct from high school will be under 1,800? Is it...

Rocket Nation Recovery Part 11 - an interesting perspective from The Blade https://www.toledoblade.com/opinion/editorials/2023/08/16/editorial-postel-pay-prudent/stories/20230816029 With leadership entering year four at UToledo, this editorial makes a really good...

Rocket Nation – here's the press release from yesterday’s UToledo emergency board meeting. https://lnkd.in/gshpEQ9n Here's The Blades interpretation https://lnkd.in/g9xUTCW5 What is your interpretation? How do the 60% of Rocket Nation members that live beyond 50-miles...

Rocket Nation Change In Direction? Today the UToledo Board of Trustees will meet in "executive session to discuss the employment and compensation of a public employee." Will this meeting mark the beginning of a reset in leadership direction or a vote of confidence to...

Rocket Nation Recovery Part 10 - - as you enter the weekend please pray for the UToledo Board of Trustees. According to the UToledo Board webpage they will convene a remote meeting on Monday, August 14th. One item is on their agenda "executive session to discuss the...

Rocket Nation Recovery Part 9 - a couple of recent posts used The Principles of Strategic Management as a framework to assess the situation at UToledo. They asked if the root cause of the morale, enrollment and financial crisis could be traced to structural problems...

Rocket Nation Recovery Part 8 - the last post used one element of The Principles of Strategic Management to assess the situation at UToledo. It asked if structural problems in UToledo's strategic intent could be the root cause of the morale, enrollment and financial...

Rocket Nation Recovery Part 7 - The Principles of Strategic Management consist of strategy formulation, execution, and evaluation. The foundation of strategy formulation is an institutions strategic intent. Could structural problems in UToledo's strategic intent be...

Rocket Nation Recovery Part 6 - over the past three weeks many questions have been asked about UToledo leadership and the enrollment/financial crisis. Most have messaged that the questions caught you off guard. Some dismissed the questions and the messenger. A few are...

Rocket Nation Art On The Mall - what a beautiful day to be on campus! Billy Pierce and the alumni association event team put on another great event. Love the new venue layout! Nice to see the Alumni Association Trustees working hard to support the event. The best part...