There’s an old saying in medicine: The operation was a success but the patient died.Danielle Wilken is determined that’s not going to happen to her patient.The longtime administrator at Goodwin University was part of a team that performed surgery on the financially ailing University of Bridgeport, starting in 2020.In 2023, the challenge for Wilken, president […]
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There’s an old saying in medicine: The operation was a success but the patient died.
Danielle Wilken is determined that’s not going to happen to her patient.
The longtime administrator at Goodwin University was part of a team that performed surgery on the financially ailing University of Bridgeport, starting in 2020.
In 2023, the challenge for Wilken, president of the University of Bridgeport since May 2021, is to make sure the patient not only lives but also thrives. And indications are the patient is well on the road to recovery.
The surgery was radical and innovative. Goodwin, based in East Hartford, and Paier College of Art, based in Hamden, purchased the University of Bridgeport’s 56-acre Long Island Sound-adjacent campus. Goodwin also purchased academic programs and set a course for shared governance that carves out a unique path for the University of Bridgeport.
Paier rebranded itself as Paier College, expanded its offerings to include industrial design and digital marketing, and moved from Hamden in time for the fall 2021 semester. Paier operates independently and occupies three buildings and one dormitory on the Bridgeport campus.
Goodwin owns and operates the University of Bridgeport. It also has expanded offerings across its curriculum to include classes in Bridgeport.
For Wilken, the Bridgeport brand and legacy are assets she can build upon. She reports a sharp increase in applications and admissions. The 1,322 fresh faces on campus this past fall represent a 30% increase above fall 2021. Applications for the spring semester are up 164%.
One factor is Bridgeport’s reputation for hosting foreign students. India in particular has been a fertile recruiting area.
Wilken also points to a decision to ramp up intercollegiate athletics — with the addition of five varsity sports, including scholarship-eligible men’s lacrosse plus men’s and women’s track and field teams — in driving new applicants. She cites the time management skills, attention to detail and drive to succeed of athletes as contributing to their success in the classroom.
As an example, she pointed to 10 members of the university’s conference championship women’s soccer team being named to the league’s academic all-star team.
Still, she admits a branding challenge stemming from the university’s unusual structure has caused some confusion in the community. Goodwin and Bridgeport have separate presidents, finance officers and academic leadership while sharing campus operations, information technology and marketing efforts. There are separate faculty councils and boards of trustees.
Both schools offer classes in a variety of liberal arts, science and health disciplines. There is some faculty overlap. Goodwin and Bridgeport students may even be in the same classes but work toward different degrees.
And there are some rub points. Because of NCAA rules, Goodwin students can’t compete on Bridgeport teams, for example, even though they share classes, a library and food services.
Enrollment bump
Wilken’s background as both provost and dean of faculty gives her experience and insight into the importance of faculty development. It’s a topic that’s been top of mind since she came on campus, she said.
“Getting the culture right is vital,” she said, and it starts with the faculty.
One of her first steps was implementing a faculty development program. The first group has finished the 24-hour training and the results are encouraging, according to Wilken.
The student population of 3,988 is split about 60-40 in favor of graduate students. The curriculum features many programs that can be handled online and on a part-time basis. It also has programs for students returning to campus, either to enrich professional skills or complete previous programs.
The bump in enrollment and the financial stability of the Goodwin arrangement have allowed Wilken to hold the line on tuition while investing in infrastructure, including upgrading some dormitory space.
Wilken points with pride to the new Multicultural Small Business Center in collaboration with M&T Bank. While designed with an eye toward helping students develop business plans and launch their first businesses, it also complements an existing business resource center for the community.
The university is also expanding its degree programs under Wilken’s leadership. It recently received first-time accreditation of its bachelor’s degree program in mechanical engineering and its master of science in nursing education and leadership programs.
