In December 2020, Complete College America (CCA), in partnership with the Jessie Ball duPont Fund, launched a rigorous 12- to 18-month project designed to increase student success and completion rates at small liberal arts institutions. The focus was on building and enhancing support systems for first-generation and Pell-eligible students, and…

Describes the origins and characteristics of Deep Springs College (DSC), which since 1917 has teamed liberal arts instruction with the physical labor of running a cattle ranch. Uses alumni survey responses to assess the long-term effects of attending DSC. Examines paradoxes inherent in the school and its future prospects. (DMM)

A case study of an anonymous college that experienced the threat of failure but managed to revitalize its operation is presented. Participant observation, interviews, and document review were used in the study that focused on the period just prior to closing and the period since its reopening. (MLW)