Case studies Public agencies and institutions
Restoring Faith in the Ivory Tower
An admissions scandal put a Southern private university’s credibility at risk with students, faculty, alumni, and donors. We helped it acknowledge the failure, show real reform, and report on it publicly.
- Client
- Private university in the South
- Engagement
- Crisis and reputation recovery
- Our role
- Communications lead for the university
- Timeline
- Nine months
Results
22% → 68%
Positive media sentiment within one academic year
+14%
Applications from prospective students
+25%
Alumni donations, year over year
Background
Parents, alumni, and students questioned the institution’s integrity. Faculty morale fell, donors paused commitments, and prospective applicants began to associate the name with unfairness.
Earlier public responses had been procedural rather than personal. The university needed to make real changes and report on them publicly.
Our work
A direct acknowledgment
A full reputation audit, then a leadership statement that acknowledged the failure, took responsibility, and committed to reform.
A public reform plan
A visible reform plan: an independent audit of admissions and donor influence, a new ethics and access office, expanded first-generation outreach and scholarships, and public progress updates.
Communication with faculty, alumni, and donors
Ongoing communication with faculty and staff, the university’s most credible voices, and alumni and donor updates that presented reform as shared progress.
Outcome
Positive media sentiment rose from 22 to 68 percent within one academic year. Applications rebounded 14 percent and alumni giving rose 25 percent year over year.
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