Economic news today is filled with discussion about whether the United States has entered a recession. For the author and other presidents of public colleges and universities, whether the downturn can be labeled a recession is far less important than dealing with the effects of economic conditions on institutions. During hard times, both public…

To overcome cynicism, a New Jersey superintendent used his bully pulpit to convene community members in dialog about their schools' future. Enlightened public engagement led to facility improvements, technology infrastructure funding, expanded afterschool programs, critical-issues forums, state-aide advocacy efforts, and a culture of…

Contends that erroneous assumptions held by faculty and administrators about higher education prevent necessary discussion among faculty and constituencies about the multiple missions and obligations of higher education. Identifies a number of critical questions for discussion both inside and outside of academic circles. (DSK)

Creating genuine partnerships between urban universities and their communities is self-interest for the academic institution because their survival is in danger. Commitment to access is only one dimension of collaboration; it must be enhanced by full participation of the university, as corporate citizens, in community development. Partnerships are…

Addresses the many issues community colleges currently face, including decreased state and federal funding, increased competition from for-profit colleges, the digital divide, and enrollment and retirement trends. Suggests that institutions interact with their environments in better, fundamentally different ways. (Contains 14 references.) (NB)

This paper discusses whether liberal arts colleges are finding it increasingly difficult to maintain their traditional curriculum as they compete for students, as well as strategies that may enable these institutions to survive while maintaining their liberal arts identity. It observes that many liberal arts colleges award less than 40 percent of…

In many states renewed attempts at school reorganization may be the sole policy response to solving the rural school improvement issue. Reorganization should be resisted because benefits of reorganization are mixed, good rural schools have many strengths, and the demise of rural schools will damage the infrastructure of rural America. (JHZ)

James Shanley, president of Fort Peck Community College (Montana), discusses the intertwined issues of unemployment, welfare reform, and economic development needs on American Indian reservations; the role of tribal colleges in job training and economic development; criticism of tribal colleges for not pursuing scholarship to validate indigenous…