St. Norbert College | De Pere, WI
Navigating Change with Wisdom: The Power of Private Conversations in Protecting Institutions
Families have disagreements. We’ve all been there—gathered around a table where opinions clash, voices rise, and the tension thickens. In those moments, emotions run high, and sometimes, words are spoken that can’t be taken back. But at the end of the day, families come together again. Why? Because love outweighs discord. Because grace has a way of mending what’s been broken. And because, at our core, we belong to one another.
Educational institutions are families, too. We who have walked the campus pathways, sat in classrooms, and cheered in arenas—we are forever connected by the spirit of these places. And like any family, colleges and universities find themselves in seasons of struggle. Decisions must be made, priorities must shift, and not everyone will agree on the path forward. That’s understandable. Disagreement is not the problem. But how we handle our disagreements? That’s where wisdom must lead us.
Around the world, higher education institutions are facing financial crises, declining enrollment, and the need for strategic adaptation. St. Norbert College in De Pere, Wisconsin, is one such institution, undergoing significant changes that have sparked passionate debate among alumni, faculty, and the greater community. The concerns raised are valid. The emotions are real. But the way in which these conversations are conducted can determine whether an institution weathers the storm—or is further battered by it.
Lately, many voices have painted a bleak picture, suggesting institutions like St. Norbert College are on the verge of collapse. But friends, I don’t believe that’s the story being written here. Colleges evolve—just as they always have. Change is inevitable. But what truly threatens the future of an institution is not the difficult decisions being made—it is the way in which its community responds to them.
The irony here is difficult to ignore: in an effort to protect their beloved institutions, some are inadvertently weakening them. The world is watching. Future students, their families, potential donors, and external stakeholders—they see what we say. And when they see division, when they hear words of despair rather than hope, they choose to turn away. If our goal is to preserve the institutions we love, then we must take great care in how—and where—we voice our concerns. We can disagree without destroying. We can question without condemning. We can be voices of reason, of healing, of unity.
There is a place for hard conversations, but it is not in the public square. These discussions belong in private settings—among trustees, in small groups, in direct conversations where solutions can be formed, not in social media posts or news headlines where nuance is lost, and damage is done. Alumni and stakeholders should absolutely reach out to decision-makers, boards, and leadership teams whose role is to guide institutions forward.
There is a way to have these discussions that leads to solutions rather than division. However, what is not helpful—what is, in fact, deeply harmful—is the public airing of grievances in social media spaces where posts often amount to little more than virtue signaling, offering no new solutions but instead stoking fear and division. This kind of discourse weakens the very institutions so many claim to want to protect.
Some have stepped away from institutions like St. Norbert College, feeling that the place they once knew has changed, that the culture has shifted, that it is no longer aligned with their vision. That is a difficult thing. Change can be hard to accept, and it is only natural to grieve what was. But friends, the answer is not to tear down what remains. Storms come, but they also pass. And when they do, we will look around and see what is left standing. If we truly care about the future, we must not be the ones holding the wrecking ball.
It is okay to say that a college or university is different than it once was. It is okay to acknowledge that it has changed in ways we did not expect, or even want. But to actively work against it, to cast stones at its reputation, to make it harder for future students to experience all it still has to offer—that is not the way forward. A student who enrolls at St. Norbert College today will find a campus filled with opportunity, with professors who care, with an education that is rich and transformative. Will it be the same as it was 10, 20, or 75 years ago? Of course not. And it shouldn’t be. The world is not the same, and neither are the challenges facing higher education. We must trust in those who have been called to lead in this moment, in this time, and have faith that they are working to preserve what is good while building what is needed for the future.
Recently, a private letter from a former college president was made public, fueling speculation and controversy about St. Norbert’s future. While the concerns raised may be legitimate, and while that leader had every right – and, arguably, a responsibility – to share their thoughts, the way in which they were exposed has done real harm. This is not about suppressing truth—it’s about stewarding it wisely. Students and families choosing a college deserve to hear a full, balanced picture, not just the echoes of fear and frustration. Institutions of higher learning are more than the struggles of today. They are places of history, of faith, of community, and of impact. They deserve to be spoken of in a way that honors their past and protects their future.
Friends, if we care about the future of education, let’s show it—not just in what we say, but in how—and where—we say it. Let’s lead with grace. Let’s seek wisdom. Let’s hold one another accountable in ways that build up, not tear down. And let’s remember that colleges and universities are not just institutions. They are families. And families, at their best, always find a way forward—together.
Travis Vanden Heuvel is a 2009 alumnus of St. Norbert College, business executive, and community leader. He is the former President of the Parish Council at Old St. Joseph Church + National Shrine of St. Joseph at St. Norbert College in De Pere, WI, and currently serves on Bishop Ricken's Diocesan Pastoral Council in the Diocese of Green Bay, Wisconsin.
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