Smaller, private, independent institutions of higher education across the United States are facing challenging times. This white paper by Edwin H. Welch, president of the University of Charleston, shares lessons gleaned from the institution's innovative efforts over almost 30 years. Welch's hope is that the experiences at the University of…

For many years, the university sector has been the dominant provider of higher education in Australia. However, recent changes in government policy which have broadened access to publicly-funded subsidised student loans have resulted in the emergence of small and large private higher education providers and consortiums offering English language,…

From the fall of 2008 through the spring of 2011, 47 colleges and universities, organized and supported by the Council of Independent Colleges (CIC), administered the Collegiate Learning Assessment (CLA) to their students. The CLA is a test of critical thinking, analytic reasoning, problem solving, and written communication developed by the…

Today, as difficult as it is for large institutions to keep software and hardware up-to-date, the challenge and expense of keeping up is only amplified for smaller colleges and universities. In the area of data-driven decision-making (DDD), the challenge can be even greater. Because smaller schools are pressed for time and resources on nearly all…

Private colleges and universities are now under pressure from many directions. This compendium of suggestions for finding alternatives to often wasteful competitive relationships explores the potential benefits of statewide planning agencies in building cooperation between the public and private sectors of higher education. (Author)

Desscribes the Tuition Plan Consortium, a consortium of nearly 300 private colleges and universities aimed at enabling students and their families to save for tomorrow's college education at today's tuition rates. (EV)

Presents the case for preserving and nourishing the teacher preparation option as an integrated part of the undergraduate liberal arts curriculum. Describes the Consortium for Excellence in Teacher Education's new reform efforts, stressing the principles of development and integration. Includes three references. (MLH)

In Portland, an Oregon state commission wants to create a federation of public and private institutions to meet local demand through better coordination. The effort may involve having some institutions refocus curricula to social and economic issues facing the community, seeking less state and more private funds, and joint faculty hiring. (MSE)

Argues the importance of maintaining teacher preparation programs in elite liberal arts colleges so that graduates of those colleges can have access to the profession and the profession can benefit from their talents. Suggests that such colleges form consortia in order to maintain preparation programs. (IRT)

The rise of the Council for the Advancement of Small Colleges (CASC) to a position of national leadership within the higher education community is described. Its success in fund-raising, college services, and intercollegiate relations is reported. (LBH)

The Justice Department's investigation of possible antitrust violations by colleges and universities, which focuses on the way private colleges set tuition rates and award financial aid to students, is discussed. The inquiry centers on groups or consortia of private colleges. (MLW)

A group of 17 independent colleges and universities in Virginia combine their long distance telephone traffic and network services for an expected savings of $4.65 million over 3 years. The 12-institution consortium that negotiated the plan prioritized service and system criteria and solicited bids from long distance carriers. (MSE)

Private colleges across the country are collaborating to cut costs, streamline services, and increase efficiency. An ambitious Ohio project, involving 35 colleges, to redesign business operations hopes to save $20-25 million. Other efforts include joint classes using interactive television, shared library resources, cross-registration, jointly…

A consortium-based, student-oriented interinstitutional research project for educational assessment is described. The College Research Center (CRC) experience suggests that a consortium can be an effective vehicle but that there are difficulties in cultivating interest and long-term commitment. (Author/LBH)

As part of a process of discerning the future direction and mission of the Sisters of Saint Joseph College Consortium (SSJCC), a year-long study of 11 institutions founded and run by the Sisters of Saint Joseph was undertaken. Sisters of Saint Joseph (SSJ) is a Roman Catholic women's religious congregation founded in 1836 which operates a…