With the pool of high school graduates decreasing, national and global competition increasing, and the need to invest in new technologies and approaches growing, many universities and small colleges alike are struggling--not just to thrive, but to survive. In this challenging environment, mergers and consolidations are often viewed as options of…

Small private colleges should not succumb to the view that being as inexpensive as public colleges is the only way to compete. By doing some aggressive marketing, these institutions can enjoy a significant edge and thrive in what promises to be a difficult decade. (Author/MSE)

Enrollments will not see steady growth again for five years. Most of the struggling colleges that have managed continuing success so far are predicted to survive. Some will endure specifically because administrators and trustees have incorporated the procedures and programs that have been successfully implemented in other institutions. (MSE)

Fund accounting, currently used by many colleges and universities to report their economic performance, may obscure rather than clarify the facts for institutional constituencies. Global accounts are more thorough and descriptive of the institution's financial status, and can be used in conjunction with traditional accounting. (MSE)

It is argued, based on the experiences of 16 small, diverse independent colleges, that small institutions can reverse decline. The analysis looks at signs of problems, patterns of institutional blindness to the problems that lead to additional decline, and behavior characteristics of the institutions that survive. (MSE)

Some advice is offered to trustees who find themselves in the position of having to close an institution in the face of seemingly conflicting legal standards. (Author/MLW)

Argues that the identity of basic writing (its status and position) is a function of larger institutional decision-making processes and therefore the focus of efforts to change basic writing should also engage these institutional processes. Focuses on how participating in technology design can be a wedge for engaging in decision making about the…

Ways that population trends, societal pressures, and changing economic conditions affect learning needs are addressed. Small and large colleges are given information to help them evaluate their missions, chart new directions, and make necessary adaptations in their curricula. The three issues addressed are the theoretical formulation of the…

Defining the college or university in terms of a shared vision of what distinguishes it from others can help unite constituencies and build a more effective student recruitment campaign. During declining enrollments, such unity of purpose can be crucial to institutional survival. (Author/MSE)

Planning coherent, relevant marketing strategies is crucial to the survival of independent education in the United States. This handbook was created for independent school marketers; principals; and development, publications, public relations, and admissions directors. It offers checklists, sidebars, callouts, and summaries that focus on…

Fisk University (Tennessee), Tougaloo College (Mississippi), and Howard University (District of Columbia) are achieving fiscal and academic success resulting from strategic planning. Elements of that success include building on institutional strengths, using bold institutional leadership, establishing financial stability, and involving faculty in…

It is suggested that low-endowment private universities must apply better marketing techniques in strategic planning to ensure survival. Recommendations are made for using market research effectively, identifying new markets, and directing media communication accurately. The student's role as consumer is seen as the starting point for product and…

Two Pennsylvania school districts have been simultaneously declared financially "distressed" and are operated by a court-appointed board of control. Describes legislation drafted to statutorily establish an early warning system so that the state can assist districts with management and budgeting advice before it becomes necessary to…

A primer on strategic planning related to institutional self-studies and attempts at assessment is outlined. The refinement of a strategic plan and the preparation for continued accreditation are major events in an institution's life, but the two processes are too often kept separate. Strategic planning requires that an institution know who it is;…

This article proposes a conceptual decision-making framework for college and university offices of institutional research during times when budgetary retrenchment and reallocation of resources is necessary. Key issues the office should consider include understanding the institution's purpose, strategy selection, evaluation activities, student…