Most institutions considering a merger, partnership or acquisition have worked with consultants before. This is how an engagement with ELM2 Advisors differs.

ELM2 Advisors Traditional higher ed consultant
We work with no more than one or two higher education clients at a time Work with many clients simultaneously
Our partners meet with you to negotiate the engagement; then partners do the work with you throughout the engagement Partner negotiates the engagement; junior associates do the work
Service focused on partnerships, mergers, and acquisitions Provide a variety of consulting services
We get to know you extremely well and you get to know us You are one of many clients they are dealing with simultaneously
We have been the principals with operational responsibility for these types of transactions Primarily have served as advisors — consultants, attorneys, and bankers
We use our broad connections in higher education to find matches that will work Primarily use publicly available data to identify potential matches
We develop a unique solution for each engagement Have standard models they apply to each engagement
Partners include experienced faculty and higher education trustees May have few or no former faculty, former academic executives, or staff with trustee experience