Small regional colleges are bracing for a battle to protect their profitable continuing-education programs from competition with distance-learning programs at research universities. Concern is particularly for part-time students who may choose distance programs that are less expensive, more convenient, and offer diplomas from better-known…

Describes a study that explored the backgrounds of small college library directors to determine the presence of doctorate degrees, considering gender and tenure in addition to size of the library, the college, and the library staff. Considers the value of the doctorate, particularly its future among female directors. (Author/LRW)

A former high school counselor and college basketball referee who has visited many colleges has transformed this experience into a career as consultant to high school guidance counselors. He often favors out-of-the-way liberal arts colleges, and is known for being student-oriented in his commentaries. College recruitment and admissions officers…

Two years ago an instructor left a large public university to teach composition at the University of Findlay, a small private coeducational institution located in a city of 36,000 people south of Toledo, Ohio. Describing the differences between small and large schools, he touches upon the more personalized student-teacher interactions at Findlay.…

Discusses the current status and future direction of science at liberal arts colleges. Summarizes findings of a conference attended by leaders of 50 private colleges and small universities on college science. States that students from small colleges fare well in later science endeavors. (ML)

The environments that seem to have the most impact on higher education are identified: demographic, economic, political, organizational, social, and technological. Insights from studies of institutions that were not successful in coping are presented. The part strategic planning can play in enabling institutions to cope with pressures is…

Emphasizes that private liberal arts colleges must compensate for declining enrollments by admitting students who are underprepared for college-level work, and discusses financial and attitudinal barriers to doing so. Reviews the problems encountered by Skidmore College and its responses, including its basic writing curriculum, writing lab, and…

Discusses the special funding problems of small/rural two-year colleges, whose main supporters are the state and private donors. Reviews funding options and models, various formulas, and criteria. Suggests the differentiated flat grant as a funding approach and that specific formula dimensions be determined legislatively. (DMM)

To determine what small colleges are doing and what they ought to be doing about institutional advancement, 170 small college institutional advancement offices throughout the country were surveyed. Some guidelines for effectiveness include: documented college purpose, a commitment to advancement, adequate budget, monitor productivity,…

A consortia model for colleges within a short distance of each other is described. Particular attention is given to the components of consortial infrastructure: the policy board and the role of the deans, the consortium director, the campus program coordinators, and the students' departmental boards. (Author/MLW)

Offers a case study of a history professor teaching at the Behrend College campus of Pennsylvania State University. Provides general information concerning professional responsibilities and teaching techniques, suggesting methods for adapting to this particular environment. Urges similar disclosure of work conditions by other professionals so that…

A small, private, liberal arts college whose library had been found unsatisfactory during accreditation transformed the library by placing it in the same reporting structure as academic and administrative computing and telecommunications. Application of strategic planning and organizational theory smoothed the transition by modifying central…

A number of small, private, liberal arts colleges have abolished Greek systems on campus and vowed to quash student attempts to establish off-campus fraternities and sororities. Some argue that a ban on fraternities denies students their constitutional right to freedom of association. A nonbinding resolution recently passed in Congress may support…

This article argues that the small school context has been a relatively unexamined or under-examined context for technical and professional communication program development. While graduate program development holds a large share of the field's attention in recent national forums, growth in graduate programs is a consequence of demand in the job…

Saint Francis College (SFC), in Pennsylvania, is a private, Catholic, coeducational institution of 1,200 full-time undergraduates. Over 55 percent of the student body is enrolled in pre-professional majors; majors in the traditional liberal arts now account for only 13 percent of the student population. Faculty some time ago began to question…