A study investigated patterns in the characteristics, structures, budgets, administrators, and activities of multipurpose collegiate consortia over a period of 15 years. Results are compared with those of previous research on consortia, and some questions are raised regarding the visibility and viability of multipurpose consortia in higher…

The director of a college consortium must be a strong leader, whose primary duties range from providing leadership to securing resources and to clearly communicating the consortium's mission. The director must keep in mind that the consortium's work is valuable only to the degree that it eases the load on the individual member institutions and…

Describes the fund-raising activities of Five Colleges, Inc., a consortium of five Massachusetts higher education institutions whose development efforts are limited to contracts and grants. Difficulties inherent in cooperative fund raising are discussed, including competition for foundation resources, the credibility of consortia in light of their…

One way colleges can approach cost control is by taking advantages of cooperative purchasing activities with other, similar institutions. Guiding principles for effective efforts include sharing the risk, sharing the resources, providing services to other institutions, and expanding institutional bargaining power through cooperation. Significant…

The Dallas (Texas)-based Alliance for Higher Education is a consortium of colleges, universities, corporations, hospitals, and other nonprofit organizations that strategically links business and higher education through distance education initiatives. The consortium has created an infrastructure that supports economic development in the…

Identifies five institutional forms of library consortia, one of which is local consortia or proximal networks, and discusses issues that apply to local library consortia. Highlights include redefinition of the library role, appropriate technology, bibliographic control, direct access, governance, and financing. (10 references) (CLB)

A New York University "magnet" program supported by the Ford Foundation provides opportunities for 11 member institutions' faculty members to pursue research, curricular, and professional projects. (MSE)

The University of Washington's Health of the Public program has convened a consortium including the region's academic medical center, the state's two largest managed care plans, and representatives of major private and public health care purchasers to collaboratively collect cross-system data on practice to improve communitywide outcomes of care.…

A number of college and university consortia have embarked on international educational cooperation ventures, providing valuable experiences and benefits for faculty, students, alumni, and the community. For these programs to be effective, they must have high-level institutional support, equal opportunities to participate, effective marketing and…

Tech prep is a program of at least 2 years of structured high school training that leads to a postsecondary degree or certificate. Tech prep programs contain a rigorous common core of mathematics, science, communications, and technology at the secondary level that are geared specifically to a technical career path. Based on the Delaware…

Describes the 1973 founding, history, and accomplishments of the American Indian Higher Education Consortium (AIHEC). Lists traits common to tribal community colleges. Discusses the AIHEC's role in providing assistance to tribal colleges and in lobbying for the passage of the Tribally Controlled Community College Assistance Act. (DMM)

The North Suburban Higher Education Consortium, a regional consortium in metropolitan Chicago (Illinois), illustrates how sharing technological resources can advance state educational technology initiatives. Begun as a modest effort to coordinate academic programs, the consortium has evolved into a complex system for the funding and use of…

Issues concerning a state policy supporting cooperative ventures among colleges and universities in Pennsylvania are discussed. It is suggested that a state policy encouraging successful interinstitutional cooperation must: avoid threatening the institutions, recognize that they must be the actual bargaining entities, inspire their interest…

The magnitude of funds needed to rectify the college deferred maintenance crisis make a quick fix unrealistic. However, by increasing funding levels and shifting spending patterns over time, institutions can address the problem without jeopardizing other goals and projects. A consortium of higher education associations recommends a…

A group of 17 independent colleges and universities in Virginia combine their long distance telephone traffic and network services for an expected savings of $4.65 million over 3 years. The 12-institution consortium that negotiated the plan prioritized service and system criteria and solicited bids from long distance carriers. (MSE)