Describes the downsizing and restructuring occurring in many community colleges due to funding decreases and enrollment increases. Discusses the feasibility of keeping an open-door policy, and explores other options to downsizing. Lists steps to help colleges review their missions, arguing that they must move to find their market niches. (AJL)

Offers a practical framework for dealing with budget reductions in community colleges. Describes horizontal cuts, which occur across the institution and affect programs and services proportionally, and vertical cuts, which target programs or services to achieve deeper reductions. Describes planning and revenue enhancement possibilities. (12…

Argues for greater two-year college faculty involvement in grant proposal writing. Lists available library resources on funding sources; reviews types of grants provided by government agencies; discusses community, national general purpose, special purpose, family, and corporate foundation support; and describes the specific steps in writing a…

Since the Archdiocese of New York has been forced to reduce Catholic school subsidies, parochial schools will have to become more self-sufficient, merge with nearby schools, or close forever. Because these schools tackle some of the poorest (non-Catholic) students, provide them with an affordable drug and crime-free environment, and are not…

After Proposition 13 passed in California, a series of 19 major bills imposed fiscal limits on the K-12 school system. One action is assigning a fiscal advisor to assume control in a district in financial distress. Lists the symptoms of a financially ill school district and highlights 24 items of a recovery plan. (MLF)

Describes restructuring of an academic department at Radford University; uses a dialogue between the department chair and the vice president of academic affairs to present the process's contrasting perspectives. Explores how faculty and administrators can treat budgetary challenges as opportunities to renew institutional missions, collaborate in…

Describes how public schools can develop plans for coping with decreased student enrollment and limited revenue due to military base closures. Describes how two school districts responded to the closure of two military bases (George Air Force Base and Norton Air Force Base) in San Bernadino County, California. Two figures are included. (LMI)

A survey of institutional researchers at 243 New England colleges and universities examined respondents' (N=127) views on the current and projected roles of institutional research. Results document limited resources particularly in small institutions. Also, a majority of institutional researchers reported that they were engaged extensively in…

Declining state support and insufficient increases in county contributions have created a severe fiscal challenge to Prince George's Community College (PGCC), in Maryland. Total state aid in fiscal year (FY) 1995 was $857,189 less than in FY 1990, while in FY 1994 PGCC also began assuming responsibility for social security payments previously paid…

This document contains the proceedings of presentations made by the Fiscal Issues, Policy and Education Finance Special Interest Group of the American Education Research Association (AERA). Ten articles focus on equitable funding systems for K-12 education and examine school financing in the following states: Florida, Illinois, New York,…

This study examined how closely 11 accepted principles for managing budgets were followed at 98 public college campuses during the first half of the 1990s, a period of budget problems. The colleges reviewed were in six states: California, Florida, Massachusetts, New York, Texas, and Wisconsin. The study found that (1) planning was not inclusive,…

Describes the Kansas Community Colleges which have never been unified under a statewide system. Also notes that Kansas colleges receive only 28% of their funding from the state, the lowest in the country, and that the colleges are currently confronted with a funding crisis. Suggests that Kansas colleges develop a statewide system. (JDI)

Provides a series of essays written for "The Academic Workplace," the newsletter of the New England Resource Center for Higher Education, since 1990. The backdrop for the essays is the increasing inequality in higher education caused by changes in the political economy of higher education, especially in New England. Altogether, the…

Periodicals editors at higher education institutions constantly confront financial pressure. Some strategies used to pair expenses or raise revenue include consolidating two or more periodicals, pruning mailing lists, trimming printing and postage costs, selling advertising, and pursuing voluntary subscription programs. (MLW)

Reviews current criticisms of community services programming in community colleges, focusing on the services' overexpansion of college mission and funding restraints. Argues that colleges cannot effectively intervene in every aspect of community life. Suggests that colleges redefine the notion of community services, retaining the educational…