The history of higher education in the U.S. encompasses a vast proliferation and remarkable evolution of individual colleges and universities as well as state systems of higher education. Research on higher education institutions, however, has come to focus predominantly on two institution types: large public universities and small private…

This qualitative study provides interpretations of the nature of strategic plans at small private liberal arts institutions. The study explored the concepts of innovation, entrepreneurship, and transformation detailed in the plans. This study included a specific cohort of eight United States small private liberal arts colleges with similar…

Objective: To examine social connection as a protective factor against exam stress. Participants: 55 undergraduate students at two universities. Methods: Students were evaluated on an exam day for their hardest class and at baseline, a day in a week where they had no exams. Social connection, salivary cortisol, perceived stress, and cognitive…

This study explores the potential link between institutes of higher educations' (IHEs') presidential skill sets and institutional health. The study uses Leadership Theory as a general theoretical framework and Skills Theory of Leadership in particular as a focal lens. A review of the literature indicates a significant gap in research on IHE…

The population of college-going students from diverse backgrounds is increasing (Western Interstate Commission on Higher Education [WICHE], 2020). However, minoritized students have traditionally been less well served by colleges and universities in terms of timely degree completion (U.S. Department of Education, 2020d). Small private colleges…

The recruiting component is a critical piece to the success of collegiate athletic programs. Small colleges that rely on athletic programs as a branch of enrollment management find coaches and athletic directors continuously searching for the most talented student-athletes to increase the chances of winning games. Along with talent, coaches must…

Two qualitative studies, 2015 and 2020, on seniors' satisfaction with faculty interactions provided the background for this 2023 qualitative study. This present study explored the characteristics and development of the faculty, staff, and student interactions that influenced college student satisfaction. Even though quantitative research showed…

This article explores how higher education institutions (HEIs) internationalize, employing information on the internationalization activities (IA), context and organizational characteristics of 431 HEIs from 33 European countries. A latent cluster analysis identifies three distinct clusters of HEIs with distinct portfolios of IA: "basic,…

As the population of students who identify as transgender grows on college campuses, it is critical that higher education identify the ways in which institutions can more effectively serve the needs of this population, creating an environment that is supportive and inclusive. The literature demonstrates that campuses have fallen short of this…

Small, private colleges in the United States provide students with close-knit and individualized college experiences. However, these institutions are increasingly vulnerable to closures, mergers, and acquisitions due to economic downturns, enrollment challenges, and many other internal and external factors. Compared to their larger public and…

With high school populations declining throughout New England and in several other regions of the country, it's only natural to be concerned about the fiscal challenges confronting the nation's private colleges and universities. Forecasts by prominent higher education experts increasingly suggest that many, if not most, small private institutions…

The purpose of this qualitative comparative case study is to explore the similarities and differences of the lived experiences and satisfaction of undergraduate business management majors attending a small, private, liberal arts institution and those attending a large, public, research university. Through the utilization of document analysis and…

One argument for keeping the physics Graduate Record Exam (GRE) is that it can help applicants who might otherwise be missed in the admissions process stand out. In this work, we evaluate whether this claim is supported by physics graduate school admissions decisions. We used admissions data from five Ph.D.-granting physics departments over a…

This report explores the financial resilience of independent colleges and universities through an analysis of 14 years (fiscal years 2001-2014) of financial data from 559 private nondoctoral institutions. Through analysis of financial performance in several domains, the data reveal that the majority of independent baccalaureate and master's-level…

Disciplinary identity, or connection to a particular academic discipline, is constructed through a developmental process across a scholar's academic life course. Using unique data from an online survey of students at four different types of colleges and universities, this study investigates the extent to which disciplinary identity among…