The Crisis in Higher Education: A Reading List

Back from the brink: How three small colleges were able to revitalize themselves and avoid extinction
Ph.D. dissertation (click link above, then see pdf link on right-hand side of page)

This study was designed to examine the actions taken by the president, board of directors, administrative staff and faculty of three private liberal arts colleges located in Pennsylvania and Maryland to revitalize or turnaround these institutions when a financial crisis was encountered. Data collection for the study involved personal interviews with knowledgeable people at each college and was supplemented by a document analysis of historical records, organizational documents, newspaper accounts, photographs, and online resources. The study results revealed that the presidents and their staffs used a total of 35 separate, identifiable actions to revitalize or turnaround their institutions. These actions included such measures as adding new academic programs, hiring more competent administrators, and implementing a strategic planning process.