Stephen Spinelli, Jr., chancellor of Thomas Jefferson University, recently wrote for The Chronicle of Higher Education about six overarching elements to consider regarding a potential university merger.

The themes include:

• Move from strength, not from desperation.
• Consider the continuum of collaboration options.
• Look for complementary partners, not just similar ones.
• Engage faculty early on, and be as transparent as possible.
• Be prepared for accreditation challenges.
• Refocus recruitment efforts during the transition.