Kathryn Palmer, Inside Higher Education
Inside Higher Ed examines how the Coalition for the Common Good moved from an ambitious higher education partnership into a legal dispute over Antioch University’s autonomy. The article explains the Coalition’s original structure, Antioch’s allegations concerning actions against its Board, finances, accreditation, and president, and the temporary court order preventing those actions while the case proceeds. It also includes the Coalition Board’s position that its actions were intended to simplify governance and improve decision-making.
The article looks beyond the immediate court filings to explore the tensions leading to the dispute. It describes Antioch’s review of the Coalition’s finances and progress, the concerns University leaders raised about unrealized growth and infrastructure, and unsuccessful efforts to identify a collaborative path forward. Antioch leaders also make clear that protecting the University’s autonomy does not require abandoning the broader goal of expanding access through institutional partnerships.