The author reports on how colleges could work together more closely in areas like the library, the colleges' technology infrastructure, human resources and payroll, and, ultimately, their academic programs. Higher education has some famous collaborations--the best-known among them are the Claremont Colleges, where seven institutions, each with a…

Tough times are encouraging colleges to share resources in a variety of areas, including campus security, research, and degree programs. Despite its veneer of cooperation, higher education is a competitive industry, where resource sharing is eyed warily. But the recession is chipping away at that reluctance, and institutions are pursuing…

Many professors and administrators express a common complaint about how universities work--that employees and units are often charged fees for work or services they receive from other campus units. This practice, often called "chargebacks," is much misunderstood because it seems counterintuitive: If you are employed by the university, why should…

For most people on campuses, September means revising syllabi, enjoying football, or avoiding the person you broke up with last spring. For college librarians, it marks the beginning of "renewal season." It is time for the tedious work of placing orders and negotiating licenses for next year's journals. However, relief may be on the horizon.…

The concept of car sharing is gaining ground on college campuses in the US, where parking and congestion are among the most problematic issues for administrators. There is a growing group of institutions that are turning to car-sharing companies like Zipcar and Flexcar in an effort to save money, free up parking spaces, and improve community…

The US colleges are struggling with soaring tuition costs as state support is unable to keep up with enrollment growth, and college officials are becoming more creative in finding ways to reduce expenses. Higher education institutions are increasingly outsourcing non-academic activities, collaborating with other institutions to share goods and…

The Orbis Cascade Alliance is a consortium of 35 college libraries in Washington State and Oregon which allows the libraries to pool their resources in pursuit of what librarians call collaborative collection development. In its scope and diversity, Orbis Cascade is unusual among groups of colleges that collaboratively buy and share books, with…

The Real Estate Investment Trust, a companion organization to the Common Trust, allows colleges to commit as little as $50,000 for investments in commercial properties at minimum risk, which could protect endowments while providing returns comparable to those of the stock market. (MSE)

Many colleges and universities are making their Internet computer links available to elementary and secondary schools, often free of charge. However, the assistance is still limited, and more teacher training, technical assistance, and appropriate equipment are needed. Examples in Florida, Virginia, Texas, and Illinois are offered. (MSE)

By merging and sharing operations with other institutions, small colleges can cut a variety of administrative costs. Interest in mergers is especially strong at private liberal arts colleges but has included two-year and vocational schools. Such partnerships can extend the life of a college or even promote growth. (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 few U.S.programs pair college students with elderly residents in the community, solving two pressing problems of college communities: lack of affordable housing for students and lack of affordable care for older people. (MSE)

In October 1997, the National Science Foundation will discontinue financial support for two university-based supercomputer facilities to concentrate resources on partnerships led by facilities at the University of California, San Diego and the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. The reconfigured program will develop more user-friendly and…

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…

Cornell University (New York) plans to use the icy waters of nearby Cayuga Lake to air-condition the campus, but recognizes they can do so only with the community's cooperation. Critics fear the move will change the lake's ecological balance. The university's decision and a subsequent public relations campaign is viewed by some as arrogant. (MSE)