Community colleges are often viewed as the gateway to higher education as well as institutions that can rapidly prepare students to enter the workforce. Yet, in spite of widespread acclaim for their effectiveness and success, community colleges have done very little to garner volunteer and financial support from their alumni. Admittedly, many…

This qualitative research study was designed as an exploration of the phenomena of alumni non-donors of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Successfully securing private voluntary support is one of the most critical challenges for higher education institutions as traditional sources of financial support diminish, and alumni…

The fall of 2008 was a bleak time for college and university leaders. While there was little doubt that state funding would be down for the foreseeable future and general agreement that endowments would take a long while to recover, no consensus existed about the potential impact of the financial crisis on college and university development…

Twenty five years ago, few community or technical colleges considered launching capital campaigns. They lacked community standing, professional fundraising staff, and the related institutional foundation structure to manage charitable efforts. Gradually, as public funding eroded, bond issues became harder to pass, and colleges recognized the need…

Ways to fund a publications office and the merits of charge-back systems are discussed. Every charge-back system differs. Some offices try to cover costs; others bill for overhead. Some alternatives to charging are described. (MLW)

To illustrate the experience of a nonprofit organization whose high respect for theory and research shaped the design and implementation of a major public relations program, this paper reports on a University of Michigan program to arrest erosion of the state financial support in a period of worsening economic problems. The next five sections of…

Using the North Carolina community college system as an example, underscores the importance of community colleges gathering in public support and translating that support into political power. Urges community colleges to address their constituencies clearly, forcefully, and collectively; reassess their mission; and investigate other avenues of…

Catholic University and Columbia University hired a public relations firm to help lobby their proposals for money from the Department of Energy's budget for new facilities. Discusses the successful outcome of their efforts, pointing out that some legislators are concerned that more colleges/universities will contact representatives to obtain…

The concepts of "image" and "image management" in higher education are relatively new outcomes of an overall debate about accountability. Competition for faculty, students, and resources demands that colleges and universities promote their faculty's good work. Public support and trust are critical to funding and understanding…

A 62-mile relay run from the campus of Southeastern Massachusetts University to a rally at the State House in Boston was the culmination of a grassroots effort to counteract state funding cuts that would have forced a layoff of 100 employees and reduced the next entering class by half. (MLW)

This publication provides detailed guidelines on how libraries and library associations can begin the process of lobbying in the state capital for funding or legislation. The first of three major sections covers how to use the legislative process, how to develop a government relations program, and how to select public relations tools. The second…

This annotated bibliography on public relations and libraries includes sources published primarily within the last decade, with the exception of a few key works published in earlier years. Arranged in topical sections, most of the sources originate from the library and information science literature; however, a few sources are included from the…

The first of a series, this publication consists of two symposium presentations. The first paper, "Annual Fund: Cornerstone of Development," by Robert L. Stuhr, defines the annual fund concept in the context of institutional development and provides five requisites for a successful annual fund: it must (1) be part of an ongoing…

A total of 267 doctoral dissertations in institutional advancement are summarized. The dissertations are listed in six professional program areas: institutional relations (e.g., college radio and television activity), educational fund-raising, alumni administration, government relations, publications, and executive management. The dissertations…

In September 1985, the New Mexico Community College Task Force was created by the New Mexico Association of Community and Junior Colleges to conduct a coordinated statewide information campaign about the educational programs and services provided by the state's 17 two-year colleges; and to address the critical issues facing these institutions.…