From 3 struggling public colleges, a new university emerges

Image:  Think higher education can’t “transform” itself? Meet Vermont State University. The newly accredited institution, the result of a merger of three financially challenged public colleges and universities scattered across more than 100 miles in Vermont, isn’t the kind of change many academic idealists might want; the consolidation will eliminate scores of programs and will cost some employees their jobs. But it may be the sort of solution more states embrace in this era of...