Portuguese is the fifth most-spoken language in the world, with about 260 million speakers (and growing to an expected 400 million by 2050), the third most spoken in the West, the most widely spoken in the Southern Hemisphere, an official language in 9 countries and other regions. It is present in Europe, South America, Africa, and parts of Asia.…

Both of the participants in this dialogue are professors of German, and both were involved in recent efforts to develop Global Studies programs at their institutions. While one teaches at a small, private, liberal arts college and the other at a large, urban, public research university, both participated in these projects with the pragmatic desire…

Whereas major research universities may accommodate programs of study in Arabic, Chinese, or Persian, regional universities and liberal arts colleges have struggled to adapt to a wider and more complex array of world languages and literatures in the 21st century. Many have been forced to choose between radically restructuring or closing programs…

This case deals with a university program which is well respected but requires changes to be made to it as enrolments dwindle. Pressure from administration is making the Program Head and Program Committee members as well as Senior Instructional Designer LeFort consider new options for its delivery. Online learning is not a well-established…

Defines marketing and discusses the eight steps of the marketing process. Emphasizes the necessity of having one individual or committee responsible for coordinating marketing functions. Notes that marketing's success depends on its acceptance by all levels of the institution. Lists the benefits of implementing marketing in a community college.…

After years of having one of Boston's strongest adult education programs, Northeastern University's University College suffered an enrollment drop in the fall of 1983. Some of the steps taken to improve enrollment included: marketing research, fine-tuning the program, and promotion experiments. Some marketing tips are provided. (MLW)

Discusses the need for educators to respond positively to changing enrollments and financial conditions by demonstrating fiscal responsibility, planning and developing relevant academic programs, and understanding the types of students being served. Attitudinal and managerial factors in the achievement of these goals are explored. (JP)

The recent literature on issues of quality, retrenchment, and evaluation suggest the kinds of planning and institutional research needed to aid college and university decision processes to sustain and improve program quality. An extensive bibliography is provided. (MLW)

One sociology department has responded to the decline in its student enrollment by developing an applied sociology program at the graduate and undergraduate levels. The BS degree emphasizes research skills and an internship; the MA degree facilitates training in interdisciplinary problem-solving skills; and a Research Institute coordinates…

Suggests that college administrators redirect their attention from studying attrition rates to enacting retention strategies based on responding to student needs and providing a more meaningful educational experience. Several studies dealing with the development of retention programs are reviewed. (JAC)

The variety of conventional and creative responses of U.S. higher education institutions to declining enrollments and related educational change is outlined, and the shift in the role of state governments in higher education is discussed. (MSE)

Law schools' future is no more or less certain than that of higher education generally. The question is whether law schools can conserve the qualitative gains they have made in recent years, especially within a static or declining larger institution. Effective administration, cooperative faculty, and generous alumni are crucial. (MSE)

In an effort to stem declining foreign student numbers, Japan will moderately increase its traditional scholarships for foreign students and sponsor 1,900 students from other countries under a short-term student exchange promotion program. The new policy also encourages the national universities to join private ones in developing ties with…

When faculty and department heads rated alternative responses to retrenchment pressures in a fictitious but realistic situation, few differences were found among department heads' and tenured and nontenured faculty's preferences. Most preferred protecting instructional programs even at the cost of research and service activities. Implications for…

The number of American versus foreign-born students studying mathematics, engineering, and physics in U.S. graduate schools is declining. A program developed at Texas Tech University's Department of Mathematics offers courses in these areas to high-ability secondary-school students, to acquaint them with career opportunities and exciting…