The functions of public relations offices are described for four small colleges and one small private school: Spelman College (Georgia); North Harris County College (Texas); Scripps College (California); Lafayette College (Pennsylvania); and Maumee Valley Country Day School (Ohio). Focus is on creative and effective use of a small staff and…

The purpose of this study was to determine the contributions of student effort, campus environments and institutional culture to student learning in three types of institutions: small residential colleges; large residential universities; and universities located in metropolitan areas. Data sources were qualitative assessments of 13 campus cultures…

Planning for a computer use "help desk" at Kenyon College (Ohio) was constrained by very limited resources. However, careful and thorough planning resulted in a low-budget, homegrown, but highly effective facility. Staffing, training, staff communication, and marketing the service were essential elements in its success. (MSE)

A Public Health Service's demonstration project brought together four historically black colleges and universities, public funding, and professional research administrator expertise to determine the impact of establishing a campus-sponsored research office. The program was found successful and may be useful for other small and midsized…

Describes the Keene State College (New Hampshire) mode for delivery of information technology, which features collaboration of major college divisions, sustainability within realistic revenue/cost projections, and customer-based service delivery. Pre-implementation conditions, origins of the collaborative arrangement, how organization of campus…

This monograph on facilities renewal at small colleges offers six case studies illustrating how these small private colleges and universities managed and funded deferred maintenance. The case studies were all written by facilities directors from institutions that developed innovative strategic plans to revitalize their physical plants. The first…

A workbook for financial self-assessment of small, private colleges is presented, along with information on the field testing stage. Eight small private colleges helped develop the workbook, which is intended to assist trustees, presidents, and business officers evaluate financial strengths and weaknesses of the school. Included is a checklist of…

A multifaceted assessment process used at a women's college (Alverno) allows the development of each student to be observed and improved as she moves through the curriculum. A corresponding evaluation process allows the curriculum content to be validated against external, real-world standards. (Author/MSE)

A definitive look at the field of alumni administration is presented, noting that the subject has until now received little attention. The 34 chapters are divided into nine sections: an overview of alumni administration; alumni as an essential resource; people management; budget and records; programming; communications; alumni education programs…

Information about advancement programs at 190 small colleges is provided, with attention to recruitment/admissions, executive management, institutional relations, alumni, and fund raising. The 190 colleges, which responsed to a survey of members of the Council of Independent Colleges, are described according to enrollment size, geographic…

Trustees at three small, independent colleges were interviewed to determine how trustees could contribute to a college's revitalization. Based on these interviews, several ways in which trustees can help individually and collectively with a college's revitalization were identified. The three colleges were located in different states and regions…

A study tested the hypothesis: The greater the amount of philanthropic income per dollar of tuition, the smaller the fraction of bachelor's degrees in occupational fields. Findings support the contention that a college's tuition dependence is associated with its tendency to adjust its curriculum to match student consumer preferences. (MLW)

A survey of alumnae of three Catholic liberal arts colleges investigated applicability of a theoretical model proposing that selected demographic, background, and opinion variables would affect alumnae giving. Results indicate that most of the demographic/background variables studied had only weak to moderate correlation with giving patterns.…

Perspectives concerning the effective use of a small college's resources and assets in a time of declining government support and decreasing enrollments are presented. Attention is directed to improving cash flow, staff reduction and early retirement, external sources of long-term financing, college financial student aid, and managing real estate…

This second publication in a three-part series called "Alternative Futures" is essentially a workbook that, followed step by step, allows a college to see how its use of space has changed over time. Especially designed for small colleges, the kit makes use of the information that is routinely collected, such as annual financial statements and…