When scientists at small colleges and universities seek research grants, they often run into challenges not faced by their colleagues at major institutions. It is, nonetheless, possible to maintain a research program at a small institution, says the writer, if people have a great deal of passion and a little ingenuity. Issues to consider at…

Implementing effective student retention strategies is important for all institutions of higher education. This is especially true for smaller, private colleges as resources for higher education are stretched and the dependence on tuition revenue to maintain fiscal viability increases. This longitudinal study focuses on the utilization of…

The closure of Barat College's operations in 2004 is similar to the accounts of other small, tuition-driven institutions such as Ambassador University, Bradford College, Marymount College, and Trinity College of Vermont. All institutions were small and in tight financial positions, and all ended up closing their doors. They also shared another…

This chapter provides an overview of functional areas included in the portfolio of the small college dean. Four examples of organizational charts are offered, as well as factors that will influence the small college student affairs portfolio in the future. (Contains 4 figures.)

Having recently represented their colleagues in discussions with the administration of their institution, Saint Anselm College, about faculty compensation, the authors of this paper decided to compile a guide for other professors at similar institutions--small, private liberal arts colleges--who may be called on to negotiate salary packages…

Many undergraduate liberal arts institutions offer computer science majors. This article illustrates how quality computer science programs can be realized in a wide variety of liberal arts settings by describing and contrasting the actual programs at five liberal arts colleges: Williams College, Kalamazoo College, the State University of New York…

Programs in geographic information systems (GIS) and related areas (e.g., GPS, remote sensing) have become important additions to the curriculum at colleges and universities of all sizes and types, including tribal colleges and universities (TCUs) such as Haskell Indian Nations University. This article discusses the recent development of a GIS…

This chapter defines the small college setting and addresses the historical and current importance of understanding the work of the small college dean.

This chapter examines the role of vice president for student affairs and dean of students, the similarities and differences between the two roles, and the realities of holding both titles at a small college.

Small private colleges that are heavily tuition dependent are challenged each year to maintain and grow student enrollments. This longitudinal study investigates how certain colleges have structured enrollment management efforts in response. The results indicate that over the last several years there has been a significant migration to the…

Redefining the community college's historical commitment to open access requires an analysis of the community college within the larger system of higher education. In 2002, Middlesex Community College in Bedford, Massachusetts (MCC) was selected as one of 12 leaders nationwide to head a cluster group of colleges. A total of 7 diverse institutions…

Unique opportunities exist on small campuses for all professionals to interact without boundaries. The traditional boundaries of classroom learning and student life cease to exist; student life professionals often function as teachers, and academic affairs professionals are encouraged to support students outside the classroom. This partnership…

This article describes two local research projects and provides a rationale for faculty scholarship at small and community colleges. (Contains 4 notes.)

The recent Sloan report found that online course enrollments are increasing 13% annually. This study investigated how the vision and philosophy of the academic leadership in small private universities influence the development of online learning. Investigations regarding online learning leadership have noted four core issues: (1) a clear…

In this article, the author describes the hiring dilemma confronting liberal-arts colleges and offers advice to job seekers who are interested in working at liberal-arts colleges. One should read the college's mission statements and research its history. If it's serving a minority-students population and one has worked with those students, one…