Penn GSE alum’s Financial Viability Index shines in Philadelphia Inquirer investigation
Small, private colleges across the nation face growing financial threats. Julee Gard, a Penn GSE alum and seasoned finance executive, has created a tool to help these schools evaluate their financial health. Recently, the Philadelphia Inquirer turned to Gard and her innovative Financial Viability Index for an in-depth investigation into the financial health of 13 small, private colleges in the Philadelphia region.
Developed during her doctoral studies at Penn GSE, the index focuses on eight key financial metrics, including a school’s ability to cover operating expenses with revenue from tuition and room and board. Colleges are scored on a scale from zero to 100 and ranked into five categories: poor, marginal, good, very good, and excellent.
Gard — Vice President for Administration & Finance at the University of St. Francis in Illinois — has gained attention for her model’s ability to provide institutional leaders with actionable insights to enhance financial stability. Highlighting her commitment to empowering tuition-dependent institutions, Gard said her model is designed to “help colleges respond timely and effectively” to financial challenges, ensuring they can continue to serve their educational missions.
