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.…

The prospect of declining enrollments challenges those in higher education to plan creatively for the future. For illustrative purposes, the concerns of mental health, aging, and criminal justice are related to higher education and examined in terms of four primary planning variables: programs, people, facilities, and funding. (JMD)

The time to begin caring about declining enrollments in community college programs is before the program is started. Program planning should take into account why industry is demanding a given program "right now," avoid developing crash programs, and obtain and utilize all of the information possible including survey data, Labor Department…

A study was conducted at Shelby State Community College (SSCC) in Tennessee to determine the extent, causes, and solutions to the problem of student retention. The study involved: (1) a comparative analysis of headcounts to assess the extent of the dropout problem, which indicated that enrollments declined sharply from 5,289 in 1983 to 3,399 in…

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…

District programs developed in 1980-83 to address improvement priorities of the Pittsburgh Board of Education include Monitoring Achievement in Pittsburgh (MAP), Pittsburgh's Research-Based Instructional Supervisory Model (PRISM), and the School Improvement Project (SIP). MAP programs in math, writing, reading, and critical thinking bring together…

An overview is provided of the problems facing the Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD), the current situation and immediate program of action, and the District's objectives for the short- and long-term future. The first section addresses the nature and scope of the problems brought about in the LACCD and California community colleges by…

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)