Fanta Aw

One NIH grant can keep dozens of people employed and an entire research project, which may be spread across several institutions or even around the globe. Now the checks stop cashing. The research comes to an end. People are lose their jobs unless there's a way to tap another source and experiments or projects that may have been going on for years can get canceled.

One NIH grant can keep dozens of people employed and an entire research project, which may be spread across several institutions or even around the globe. Now the checks stop cashing. The research comes to an end. People are lose their jobs unless there's a way to tap another source and experiments or projects that may have been going on for years can get canceled.

And that's why it's such an existential issue for the research community.

And that's why it's such an existential issue for the research community.

So around two thirds of the costs to run a university are people. They're going to get rid of people. They're not going to fill positions. They're going to hold off on raises. They're going to trim benefits. It's like every other corporation when there's not enough money coming in. The workers are going to feel a pinch. That's going to be the main thing.

So around two thirds of the costs to run a university are people. They're going to get rid of people. They're not going to fill positions. They're going to hold off on raises. They're going to trim benefits. It's like every other corporation when there's not enough money coming in. The workers are going to feel a pinch. That's going to be the main thing.

Projects are going to get shelved, things that were going to be built. There was money earmarked for them from a particular donor, but maybe the school had to match a piece of that. Now the school can't match it, so they're going to postpone. That's the sort of thing that's likely to happen.

Projects are going to get shelved, things that were going to be built. There was money earmarked for them from a particular donor, but maybe the school had to match a piece of that. Now the school can't match it, so they're going to postpone. That's the sort of thing that's likely to happen.

Some schools are really dependent on tuition and some schools less so, right? Some schools are getting 75% of their revenue from tuition. But if there's less money in the pot, usually what happens is the chief financial officer says to the admissions director, we need to generate $50 million from this year's class.

Some schools are really dependent on tuition and some schools less so, right? Some schools are getting 75% of their revenue from tuition. But if there's less money in the pot, usually what happens is the chief financial officer says to the admissions director, we need to generate $50 million from this year's class.

And so you can give scholarships and grants, but we need to get that much money coming through the front door, which means that there's pressure on the admissions folks to bring in enough kids who can pay enough money to hit that number. And ultimately, that will mean some kids will get smaller packages and they won't go to that school.

And so you can give scholarships and grants, but we need to get that much money coming through the front door, which means that there's pressure on the admissions folks to bring in enough kids who can pay enough money to hit that number. And ultimately, that will mean some kids will get smaller packages and they won't go to that school.

And the field will sort of tilt in favor of kids who are able to pay in full. So that's how this will round out at some schools. But you say that there's not that many kids in America, families in America who are able to pay full freight for universities. So the sticker price for schools keeps going up, but the net price is now going down because there's fewer people who can afford it.

And the field will sort of tilt in favor of kids who are able to pay in full. So that's how this will round out at some schools. But you say that there's not that many kids in America, families in America who are able to pay full freight for universities. So the sticker price for schools keeps going up, but the net price is now going down because there's fewer people who can afford it.

So there creates pressure at kind of at every point.

So there creates pressure at kind of at every point.

Boom. Pressure that universities are under is to maintain the money so they're turning more toward adults and people who didn't graduate college. They're trying to be more entrepreneurial. They're trying to attract more adults. They're trying to go more online.

Boom. Pressure that universities are under is to maintain the money so they're turning more toward adults and people who didn't graduate college. They're trying to be more entrepreneurial. They're trying to attract more adults. They're trying to go more online.

You see little one-offs, assisted living and senior living popping up near universities so that those people can enjoy what's happening on a college campus and the resources there, which is also a financial benefit for universities. So there's little green shoots happening around the country that universities are experimenting with to bring in more money.

You see little one-offs, assisted living and senior living popping up near universities so that those people can enjoy what's happening on a college campus and the resources there, which is also a financial benefit for universities. So there's little green shoots happening around the country that universities are experimenting with to bring in more money.