Higher education institutions are confronted with increasing demand for electronic access to educational opportunities, improved academic quality and accountability, and new academic programs that address societal workforce and economic development needs. Collaboration allows institutions to combine resources to respond efficiently and effectively…

The production and distribution of telecourses for higher education are examined in three papers prepared as background materials for a roundtable discussion sponsored by the American Association of Community and Junior Colleges. In the first paper, James J. Zigerell reviews the following considerations in designing a television-based course of…

With computers rivaling books and journals as information sources, academic libraries must learn to use computers and other technology as information tools. Some colleges have already developed consortia and other intercollegiate arrangements, but costs and the information explosion slow this process for many. (MSE)

Increasingly, colleges and universities are cooperating to save money. Tactics include sharing of administrators; multicampus employee insurance policies; joint faculty appointments, departments, and programs; and electronically linking library collections. Obstacles include institutions' fear of losing identity and difficulty in reaching…

The predicted declines in higher education enrollment coupled with continuing increases in costs have caused administrators to rethink the tradeoffs resulting from interinstitutional cooperation and competition. In considering alternate courses, five basic questions are addressed: (1) To what extent do institutions nationally engage in cooperative…

Before joining a data-sharing consortium, colleges and universities must address issues regarding goals and expectations, including why comparative data are needed, information types needed, needed comparisons, selection of institutions for comparison, data accessibility, time requirements, costs, and need for technical expertise. (MSE)