This study undertook an empirical examination of those institutions identified as "invisible" in "The Invisible Colleges: A Profile of Small, Private Colleges With Limited Resources." As of 2012 to 2013, 354 of the original invisible colleges continued to operate as accredited private, 4-year institutions. However, 80 of the…

The literature on organizational culture underscores the benefits of a strong culture--its capacity to draw people together through shared values and norms. Yet, the formation of a powerful ideology also has the capacity to promote divisiveness and to alienate those who fail to conform. This study employs Frank W. Lutz's witch-hunting framework in…

The factors that contribute to the well-being of small colleges with a focus on style of leadership were studied. Seven characteristics of successful small colleges were identified: mission and purpose, opportunity consciousness, innovation and creativity, intuition, administration through people, effectiveness versus efficiency, and well-run…

In order to provide flexibility in mid-range financial planning in higher education institutions, a predictive modular decision-making model is prepared. Simple computational procedure and a small external information requirement will enable small institutions to utilize the model. (Author/MLW)

The conversion of liberal arts institutions into comprehensive institutions primarily engaged in vocational and occupational programs is discussed. The liberal arts college is seen as an endangered species that needs to be preserved at all costs. A history of the liberal arts college in America is provided. (MLW)

Three small private colleges are examined during periods of growth, decline, and revitalization and why these events may have occurred are analyzed. The case studies occurred at three Carnegie category II colleges. (Author/MLW)

A study at a small college corroborates studies at larger institutions in finding only a slight relationship between research and teaching performance. The relationship varied substantially across ranks and disciplines. These results, it is suggested, question the policy of pressing faculty to do research on the assumption that it improves…

Disciplinary groups of faculty in small liberal arts colleges hold significantly different perspectives on teaching-learning goals and approaches for achieving them. The pattern of differences identified seems more complex than attitudinal dichotomies previously advanced by researchers studying faculty views across diverse types of institutions.…

The behaviors and subsequent situations of two sets of colleges that experienced severe financial difficulties in the mid-1970s were examined. One set made a dramatic recovery; the other set did not. The more resilient group pursued a combination of adaptive and interpretive strategies. (MLW)

Recently many religious colleges have become more secular and single-sex colleges have become coeducational. By contrasting environmental and financial data of a matched sample of colleges that made these changes with a sample of colleges that have not, it was possible to assess the impact of those policy decisions. (Author/LBH)

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…

A study at Franklin and Marshall College to determine why research does not appear to have the beneficial effect on teaching that so many have assumed it does is discussed. It is thought that scholarship makes a professor more knowledgeable and that a more knowledgeable professor makes a better teacher. (Author/MLW)

A case study of the Eisenhower College legislation of 1974 follows the legislation from its inception in May 1970, to final enactment by Congress in December 1975, and through the administrative problems that resulted in the college's closing in July 1982. (Author/MLW)

A pricing model is offered, based on retention of current students, that colleges can use to determine appropriate tuition. A computer-based model that quantifies the relationship between tuition elasticity and projected net return to the college was developed and applied to determine an appropriate tuition rate for a small, private liberal arts…