Examines the arguments regarding convergence between community colleges and proprietary institutions put forth by the other authors in the current volume. Concludes that the convergence between institutions is more apparent than real, but that if external pressures continue or increase, it may become reality. (MAB)

There are many excellent scientists in the natural and human sciences in Canada's small universities. If the institutions implement internal procedures to encourage and foster a research climate and if research councils consider alternative strategies for research funding, research productivity could expand greatly in quality and scope. (MSE)

A case study of a small, private, selective college that made institutional changes to respond to needs of disabled students found that changes needed to effectively serve this group are complex and multidimensional. Six key factors facilitating organizational change are identified, changes are cited, and suggestions for further improvement are…

A telephone registration system for first year students implemented at Alma College (Michigan), involves having freshmen confer with advisors during orientation week, then having the registrar's office contact the advisors. Despite limitations, the low-tech solution works well at extremely low cost. (MSE)

Administrators at Bowdoin College (Maine) have translated lessons learned from the process of administrative software conversion into ten commandments for other small colleges undertaking such changes. Three approaches to management information systems are outlined, with advantages and limitations highlighted, as well as the ten recommendations,…

Estimates are that approximately 100,000 to 125,000 students take introductory astronomy classes each year at colleges and universities that do not grant bachelor's or higher degrees in physics or astronomy. This represents roughly 40% to 50% of the total number of students taking intro astronomy in the United States. Such nonresearch institutions…

This paper describes the process involved in envisioning Delta State University (Mississippi) Division of Computer Information Systems/Office Administration's (CIS/OAD) long-range approach to addressing the university's identified curricular needs. The process included: examining of community needs, assessment of current resources, curriculum…

The advent of writing-across-the-curriculum programs at the college level has necessitated the development of institutional measurement schema to internally assess their pedagogical and curricular efficacy and to externally demonstrate to concerned constituents that specific institutions are effectively fulfilling the educational mission for…

This paper, from the Proprietary Schools Advisory Committee, is an executive summary of reports on the productivity-quality efforts of nine Illinois proprietary institutions. For each school, productivity summaries are presented for instructional, public service, and research units as well as academic and administrative functions. Examples of…

This paper examines the perceptions and attitudes of the faculty of a rural community college about their institution's mission. The college serves a 19-county area in central Alabama, characterized by high rates of illiteracy, unemployment, and poverty. Surveys were completed by 74 of the 100 faculty members. Faculty generally supported their…

This examination of the impact of technology on the educational role of small academic libraries focuses on the information access aspect of technology. Librarians at 26 colleges in Illinois with enrollments of under 3,000 students responded to a survey which measured the libraries' access to databases through online searching and the use of…

A study examined the kinds of skills that minority students felt prepared them for college and helped them to succeed. All 80 minority students enrolled at Illinois' Millikin University (enrollment, 1,800 students) were interviewed for 20 to 30 minutes each. Results indicated that: (1) students reported that English composition/writing classes,…

Faced with an enrollment decline of 36 percent in the last three years, New England College (New Hampshire) has developed a long-range plan for making itself smaller. Changes which are being made include: (1) reducing the number of faculty; (2) reducing the amount of student housing; (3) adding another person to the fundraising staff; (4) offering…

A survey was conducted to identify the patterns of academic and administrative computer services in use--or planned for the near future--in small colleges and universities as they relate to such strategic policy areas as: (1) management/governance structure; (2) personnel-staff; (3) personnel-faculty; (4) academic computing; (5) library services;…

The role of student affairs staff in small colleges is considered in eight chapters. Topics of discussion include: conditions facing small colleges, the small college ecology, the role of the student affairs division in providing leadership for institutional planning and research, examples of innovative programming that maximize scarce resources…