Small institutions must be agile and creative in successfully sustaining and expanding in today's higher education climate. Collaborating with external partners is an excellent choice for small institutions whose funding and staffing are limited. Our intention with this article is to focus on collaboration with external partners including…

The landscape of higher education in the United States currently comprises 5918 institutions serving approximately 18.1 million students. Among them, 1833 are small institutions with full-time equivalent enrollments of 3000 or less. In this article, the authors examine financial and enrollment challenges facing small institutions and the potential…

Through the lens of change management theory, this article focuses on transforming institutional culture at small institutions through grant opportunities. Federal discretionary grants, such as the Department of Education's Title III, Strengthening Institution Program (SIP), provide financial resources for new initiatives to improve student…

Doing more with less is a continual dynamic faced by leaders in higher education, particularly within small institutions where resources can be scarce, and professionals often are wearing multiple hats. The ability to prioritize programs and services in student affairs rises to the forefront of our work every day. As a result, leaders often need…

The universe of small institutions includes "special mission" institutions. Although these institutions share several similarities, each plays a special and distinct role in higher education, providing a unique culture and experience for their students. They include women's colleges, Historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs),…

Collaboration between academic and student affairs fosters meaningful student engagement, supports academic achievement, and facilitates a robust campus community. Although these partnerships can be challenging to develop, small institutions occupy a unique position in higher education, as these collaborations are highly valued as fundamental to…

This article explores the dynamics of student engagement in small institutions, emphasizing their unique community-centered approach. Particularly in the post-pandemic era, where personalized support systems have become crucial, small institutions are reevaluating their strategies to enhance student empowerment and connection. Key aspects examined…

The authors examine the unique and important role of small institutions in the landscape of higher education in the United States. Through an examination of student success, community engagement, and sense of belonging, the authors aim to provide a better understanding of the evolving dynamics in small institutions and the need for bold…

Small institutions are in a unique and perhaps necessary position to innovate as the field changes, resources falter, and the needs of the next generation of students and families become apparent and quite different from those supported by our historical structures and service modalities. This article examines the literature surrounding historical…

Saint Mary's College of California is a small, Catholic Lasallian, liberal arts institution located in the San Francisco Bay area. Founded in 1863, the institution currently serves approximately 2,000 enrolled students. The Catholic Institute for Lasallian Social Action (CILSA) is the social justice and community engagement center that provides…

Care teams, an important structure at most institutions of higher education, coordinate the work of various units to intervene with students who are at risk of attrition, academic failure, and/or are experiencing socio-emotional struggles. The authors provide various examples of how case management and Care Teamwork is structured in the small…

All undergraduate students at Saint Mary's College of California, a small, private institution, are required to complete an engaged learning (EL) course or experience for graduation. This graduation requirement was established to provide students with the opportunity to learn in and from the community; an important value from the principles of the…

This chapter examines the current state of college unions at small colleges and offers a forecast of their future.

Some significant differences exist in institutional budgeting and financing between large universities and small colleges. This chapter looks at these differences and describes some of the issues senior student affairs officers need to become familiar with in order to take on a leadership role in the stewardship of their institution.

This chapter provides an overview of functional areas included in the portfolio of the small college dean. Four examples of organizational charts are offered, as well as factors that will influence the small college student affairs portfolio in the future. (Contains 4 figures.)