Describes how the growing gap between "haves" and "have-nots" in college football has leaders of some colleges demanding more access to championships and more money. (EV)

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…

Reports on the closing of Bradford College (Massachusetts), a small independent institution with a recent history characterized by shifting strategies, a heavy debt burden, and unrealistic enrollment projections. Compares Bradford's experience with that of Trinity College (Vermont), another small, struggling but surviving, institution. (DB)

Describes how California's Bethany College survived four years of tough love from the accrediting Western Association of Schools and Colleges and emerged with a clean bill of health and a future. (EV)

This article discusses Antioch College, a once-prominent countercultural institution that will be closed in 2008 due to serious financial problems. Antioch has been hemorrhaging money for years. Its Board of Trustees has decided to shutter the college by July 2008 and lay off most of its 160 staff and faculty members. Although the administration…

Describes how a long-predicted decline in the fortunes of small private colleges is beginning to show up in the bond market, as the number of colleges now rated in the junk category has nearly doubled. (EV)

Most colleges are finding they must cut back spending and find ways to increase income, no longer relying on raising tuition. Although consolidating jobs, cutting academic programs, reducing financial aid, and delaying construction are already common among larger schools, small colleges fear the impact on their already limited budgets. (MSE)

To help improve the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics's image, its leaders have proposed a package of restrictive measures for consideration at its annual meeting. The regulations would set freshman-eligibility standards, tighten academic-progress rules, put limits on sports seasons and financial aid, and create competitive…

Student and alumnae groups have mobilized to preserve Wheaton College as one of a dwindling number of single-sex women's institutions and are taking legal action to fight what they believe is a breach of faith. (MSE)

Describes how Bennett College, an historically black women's institution, is trying to regroup after its latest president lasted only seven months. (EV)

Describes how, even with a $600 million endowment, a small, rich college like Oberlin is feeling the economic pinch. (EV)

A small consulting firm, the Registry for College and University Administrators, places retired college presidents in interim positions, usually after an administrator has left suddenly. Interim presidents have been placed at 19 institutions in seven years, mostly at small, private colleges. Almost always, the underlying mission is to lay a strong…

By merging and sharing operations with other institutions, small colleges can cut a variety of administrative costs. Interest in mergers is especially strong at private liberal arts colleges but has included two-year and vocational schools. Such partnerships can extend the life of a college or even promote growth. (MSE)

Many small liberal arts colleges nationwide are facing unprecedented challenges in finances and demographics. Unless they have name recognition, a sizeable endowment, or especially strong academic offerings, most struggle to attract students from outside their regions. To survive, colleges have been urged to expand adult education and distance…

Discusses results of the National Survey of Student Engagement, a $3.3 million project sponsored by the Pew Charitable Trusts which gauged the extent to which colleges encourage actual learning. More than 63,000 undergraduates filled out the questionnaire in spring 2000. Findings indicated that small and liberal arts colleges fared well in the…