Strategic planning can successfully counter crises threatening a college's survival by clarifying the mission, by shaping institutional reorganization and curriculum development and by focusing marketing efforts and attracting new support. Crisis background, financial exigency, and reorganizing strategically are discussed. (MLW)

Describes ways in which proprietary schools are becoming more like community colleges, focusing on institutional mission, funding, and governance. Indicates that the transition to career colleges is characterized by longer programs, higher academic credentials for instructors, and pursuit of accreditation and degree-granting authority. (13…

Examines the arguments regarding convergence between community colleges and proprietary institutions put forth by the other authors in the current volume. Concludes that the convergence between institutions is more apparent than real, but that if external pressures continue or increase, it may become reality. (MAB)

There are many excellent scientists in the natural and human sciences in Canada's small universities. If the institutions implement internal procedures to encourage and foster a research climate and if research councils consider alternative strategies for research funding, research productivity could expand greatly in quality and scope. (MSE)

A case study of a small, private, selective college that made institutional changes to respond to needs of disabled students found that changes needed to effectively serve this group are complex and multidimensional. Six key factors facilitating organizational change are identified, changes are cited, and suggestions for further improvement are…

A telephone registration system for first year students implemented at Alma College (Michigan), involves having freshmen confer with advisors during orientation week, then having the registrar's office contact the advisors. Despite limitations, the low-tech solution works well at extremely low cost. (MSE)

Administrators at Bowdoin College (Maine) have translated lessons learned from the process of administrative software conversion into ten commandments for other small colleges undertaking such changes. Three approaches to management information systems are outlined, with advantages and limitations highlighted, as well as the ten recommendations,…

Estimates are that approximately 100,000 to 125,000 students take introductory astronomy classes each year at colleges and universities that do not grant bachelor's or higher degrees in physics or astronomy. This represents roughly 40% to 50% of the total number of students taking intro astronomy in the United States. Such nonresearch institutions…

Faced with an enrollment decline of 36 percent in the last three years, New England College (New Hampshire) has developed a long-range plan for making itself smaller. Changes which are being made include: (1) reducing the number of faculty; (2) reducing the amount of student housing; (3) adding another person to the fundraising staff; (4) offering…

Lewis and Clark College has developed an international studies program featuring an international affairs symposium with international scholars, overseas study groups, a large foreign student population, substantial foreign language enrollments, and a large international affairs department. (MSE)

The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), the sports-governing body for over 500 small colleges and universities, will weigh a series of major alterations in rules and procedures concerning standards for freshman athletes, separate competition divisions in all sports, an accreditation system for monitoring academic standards,…

This article addresses some of the contextual factors that influence faculty evaluation in a small, church-related liberal arts college and identifies five areas in which structural and normative constraints of the institution may affect individual faculty ratings. Provides recommendations for preparing evaluations which minimize the impact of…

Presents methods and findings of a study of finances, programs, costs, curriculum, and innovative practices at 160 small rural colleges, including comparative data on a small sample of nonrural and large community colleges. Finds small colleges receiving special consideration from funding sources and program diversity related to enrollment size.…

Recent emphasis placed on the cost effectiveness of larger colleges and larger classes is criticized from the point of view that student involvement is more valuable but is difficult to achieve under such circumstances. (MSE)

Characteristics of successful small-college administration are identified: entrepreneurial spirit, intuitive decision-making, an effective intelligence-gathering network, planning for the future using analogies from the past, and a penchant for keeping options open. (Author/MLW)