Franklin University President David Decker Makes Guest Appearance on Changing Higher Ed Podcast

Contact:

Sherry Mercurio
Executive Director, Office of Community Relations
(614) 947-6581
Email: sherry.mercurio@franklin.edu

Dr. David Decker, president, Franklin University, made a guest appearance on the Changing Higher Ed podcast with host Dr. Drumm McNaughton. The October 24, 2023 episode, titled “Enrollment Boosting Strategies for Accredited Institutions,” explored Dr. Decker’s experience at Franklin University to shed light on innovative strategies that higher education leaders can adopt to drive enrollment, contain costs, and provide high-quality education.

High-level takeaways from the podcast include:

• How applying the 4 Ps (Product, Price, Place, and Promotion) of marketing to higher education programs can lead to success to better align with the needs of students and employers.
• Pricing in higher education should go beyond an institution’s needs and instead consider fixed points to contain costs, such as IRS guidelines for tax deductions, Pell Grants, and the ideal price of zero that students aim for.
• Connect the importance of building alliances with community colleges, corporations, and other professional organizations to strategic enrollment growth to enhance the credibility of the institution and provide students with clear pathways for credit transfer and career development.

The podcast also shared Dr. Decker’s three key takeaways for higher education leaders:

• Think Beyond Content
• Embrace a Market-Driven Pricing Model
• Build Strategic Partnerships

Listen to the full episode here. 

About Dr. David Decker
Dr. David R. Decker serves as the fourth President of Franklin University. Under his leadership, Franklin focuses on the demonstrable achievement of student outcomes, through which graduates are empowered to rise in their professions and strengthen their contributions to their families, communities, and employers. In Dr. Decker’s tenure, Franklin University has become a doctoral-granting university with a global presence and has also established a world-class Instructional Innovation Center focusing on enhancing student learning and student success.

Prior to coming to Franklin, he served as Dean of Business and Vice President for Global Academic Programs at the New York Institute of Technology, playing a key role in its internationalization and development of its online programs. Dr. Decker also taught and led academic units at Youngstown State University, as well as at three other universities, and has international teaching experience in China, Malaysia, Russia, Mexico, Spain, Germany, Brazil, and Jordan, among others. His extensive corporate experience includes serving as president and CEO of a $130 million manufacturing company. He has served as a consultant to Fortune 100 corporations and many nonprofit organizations.

Dr. Decker graduated from Grinnell College, holds the M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Kansas, and earned the M.B.A. from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. A native of Philadelphia, he is the author of two books and numerous articles on business, literature, and higher education.

About Franklin University

Accredited, nonprofit, and dedicated to educating adults since 1902, Franklin provides onsite course options at our Main Campus in downtown Columbus, Ohio, and is an innovator in providing personalized online education. The University offers applied in-demand undergraduate, masters, and doctorate programs that enable adult learners to achieve their educational and professional goals. Through agreements with partner institutions, the University also offers international academic programs, including its top-ranked MBA.

Franklin University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and holds specialized accreditations for specific academic programs through the International Accreditation Council for Business Education, the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation, and the Commission on Accreditation of Health Informatics and Information Management Education. The National Security Agency and the Department of Homeland Security have designated Franklin University as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education (CAE-CDE).