By offering admission to more students than ever and introducing tuition plans attractive to middle-income families, many colleges have larger first-year classes. Poor job prospects are boosting enrollments, and recession is driving students to look for education bargains. However, the trend does not apply to all groups or institutions. (MSE)

Tyrone Crider, the director of admissions at Central State University speaks to black high-school students about the importance of succeeding in school and in life. He uses the Top 20 songs for inspiration, giving a traditional educational message in a non-traditional way. (MLW)

The National Congress of Black Faculty is expected to address the problems of the recruitment and promotion of black faculty members, research and publication issues, and the recruitment and retention of black students. (MLW)

Alarmed by the decline in the number of minorities graduating from high schools and colleges, representatives of 28 liberal arts institutions met at Swarthmore College in February 1987 to consider strategies to increase minority-group applicant pools and to improve retention rates. A consortium with 300 high schools nationwide was proposed. (MLW)

Admissions offices of colleges trying to increase undergraduate student diversity are being criticized for failing to explain their affirmative action policies to prospective students and their parents, resulting in a backlash against affirmative action as white students fear reverse discrimination. (DB)

Many institutions have stepped up their efforts to recruit talented black students. Dartmouth's weekend, called "Experience Dartmouth," has become one of its most successful recruitment tools. Weekends planned by undergraduate students and increased involvement of black alumni are described. (MLW)