How Course-Sharing Is Cutting College Costs: Adrian College President’s Model Scales to Nearly 140 Institutions

Adrian College President Explains Course-Sharing Model That Lowers Higher-Education Costs

Jeffrey Docking, president of Adrian College in Michigan, told Fox News Digital that many small colleges are turning to course-sharing arrangements to reduce tuition pressure and student debt. Docking says the model—coordinated through a for-profit intermediary, Rize Education—lets institutions share faculty and courses so they don’t each hire professors for low-enrollment subjects.

"It's too expensive. Students are taking on too much debt. Even upper middle-class families are saying, 'We don't know if we can do this anymore,'" Docking said. "So, why don't you just have one or two German professors that share with the other schools and drive down that cost?"

How the Model Works

Rize Education operates a course-sharing platform that enables accredited nonprofit colleges to cross-register students in online or live classes offered by partner institutions. The goal is to increase program offerings, reduce redundancy in hiring, and lower per-student instructional costs. Participating students continue to attend their home campus while taking shared courses from faculty at other accredited institutions.

Growth and Impact

Docking launched the initiative in 2019 with two Harvard graduates, Kevin Harrington and Connor McCarthy. Originally recruited to learn small-college operations at Adrian, Harrington and McCarthy helped grow the effort into Rize. The company now employs roughly 65 people.

Five years ago, about seven colleges used the platform and roughly 40 students were enrolled in shared courses. Today, nearly 140 colleges participate and Docking says total student participation will exceed 10,000 this year. Harrington told Fox News Digital that about 130 schools added more than 700 new academic programs and career pathways through the platform at roughly one-tenth of the typical cost.

Adrian College Results

Adrian College reports more than 1,500 students currently take courses shared with other institutions. Since partnering with Rize, Adrian has launched 27 majors, 13 minors and eight certificate programs across business, technology, engineering and healthcare—expanding offerings without proportionally increasing faculty headcount.

Policy Attention

Because of the model's rapid expansion, Docking was invited to testify before the House Education and Workforce Committee on Nov. 18 at a hearing titled "The Future of College: Harnessing Innovation to Improve Outcomes and Lower Costs." He was one of four witnesses presenting ideas to reduce student debt and improve employment outcomes for graduates.

Docking is also the co-author of Crisis in Higher Education: A Plan to Save Small Liberal Arts Colleges in America and is credited with strengthening Adrian College's athletics programs and doubling enrollment since 2005.

Broader Context

Rising tuition and student debt remain central concerns: student loan balances totaled about $1.6 trillion in the fourth quarter of 2023, according to the New York Federal Reserve. Docking warns that shrinking access to affordable higher education could have long-term consequences for economic mobility and democratic participation.

Bottom Line: Course-sharing is a practical, scalable strategy some small and mid-sized colleges are using to expand curriculum options and reduce costs by pooling faculty resources across institutions.