This study searches for a set of common indicators that contributed to the ultimate closure of 40 colleges and universities between 1965 and 2005. From research on related literature, a set of 31 contributing factors was identified by published experts and observers in higher education. That set of indicators was then used as a list of 31 questions answered by data found in newspaper articles, professional journals, published research work, published institutional records, data taken from the Department of Education, data taken from IPEDS, data published in historical recounts of the colleges of interest, etc. The data was accumulated in the form of yes/no responses to the 31 questions. Although the study involved only 40 colleges and universities this population represents the majority of institutions that pass the restrictions of limitations and delimitations described in the full document. The complete data set was processed using SPSS which produced ANOVA tables and level of statistical significance for each indicator question. The results indicate that out of the 31 original indicator questions there were two groups of statistically significant indicators. The larger group of indicators having statistical significance at the .05 level encompassed the smaller group having statistical significance at the .001 level. There were ten indicators in the first group with significance at the .05 level and seven in the second group with significance at the .001 level. Both groups conform to Bowen's revenue theory of cost associated with the operations of colleges and universities. The first group also has a cultural values component observed by a number of the experts cited in this study. The second is very tightly associated with Bowen's revenue theory of cost and Bates and Santerre's for profit theory of economics. Future research needs to be done to investigate the effect of such use of those indicators and to cause change in their use by educating those entities who are informed by those indicators.

Small private colleges represent a unique and important element of diversity within American higher education. Their small size, heavy dependence on tuition, and limited resources, have caused them to be repeatedly identified as singularly threatened with enrollment declines. Despite these predictions the evidence indicates that most of these colleges survived the 1980s and many thrived. This study had two major goals. The first was the characterization of institutions within the population during the 1980s with regards to environmental characteristics, institutional attributes and academic strategic actions. The second was the description of the relationships between these variables and enrollment changes in the 1980s. The population was composed of Liberal Arts I and II colleges with independent ownership and average Fall, 1980 enrollment between 100 and 1000. This study utilized data from two primary sources; a questionnaire distributed to academic officers, and several self-reported, public domain sources. The survey was distributed to all 294 institutions in the population with 219 returned (74% completion rate). Basic descriptive statistics were used to characterize the population. A list of statistically and substantively significant variables were identified using a set of criteria for causal inference. Factor analysis was utilized to develop factors from the significant variables and these factors were entered into a multiple regression model to explain variance in enrollment growth. These colleges were located in highly populated areas shared with many institutions offering two- and four-year degrees. Nearly three-fourths of the academic programs at these institutions were classified as liberal arts in 1989. The 1980s saw an increase in the number and proportion of professional programs and the number of programs for "non-traditional" students. These colleges added Associates and Masters degrees, and increased the number and proportion of graduate students. The selectivity of nearly 90% of these institutions was minimally or moderately difficult in 1989 and 84% were church-related. Two categories of environmental characteristics were related to enrollment changes in the 1980s. The first was the size of the immediate community, and the second was the level of local competition. Community size was the only environmental factor which substantively explains any of the variation in 1980s enrollment change. Four factors were identified which characterized the relationship of institutional attributes and enrollment changes in the 1980s. These factors were; the age of students, the balance of professional and liberal arts programs, and two variables related to institutional image. Collectively, three of the four factors explain ten percent of the variance in 1980s enrollment change. Eight factors characterized institutional actions influencing enrollments. These factors include adult programs and policies, institutional student selectivity, internal activities focused on traditional student pools, non-traditional student support and recruitment, non-traditional program development, changes in institutional policies (calendar and directed studies), addition of graduate programming, and increase in transfer students. Collectively, factors one, two, three, five, and eight explain over 30% of the variance in 1980s enrollment change. When all fourteen of these factors were entered into a multiple regression model, the six factors that loaded were; student selectivity, traditional student responses, nontraditional programming, transfer students, average student age, and community size. These factors explained nearly 35% of the variance in 1980s enrollment change. These findings indicate that the greatest influences on enrollment change in the 1980s were related to non-traditional students. Those institutions which showed increases in non-traditional programs, non-traditional students, and average student age, showed the greatest increase in enrollments. Those institutions located in rural regions and those which reported the use of more traditional institutional responses to enrollment challenges (e.g. freshman advising programs) showed lower enrollment gains. Finally, higher levels of student selectivity co varied significantly with enrollment rates.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2001. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 95-107). Also available on the Internet.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2001. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 95-107). Also available on the Internet.

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This study explores the notion of autonomy in the dynamics of private higher education in China. Focusing on the role and function of autonomy in the operation of private institutions of higher education, it examines the evolution of government policy, documents the recent rapid development of private post-secondary institutions, and investigates the quality of the relationships between private institutions, their communities, society and government. / Data were collected from government sources and from fifty-six private institutions through various methods, including interviews, questionnaires and case studies. / Qualitative analysis of the data revealed different dimensions, perceptions, and patterns of autonomy in these institutions. / The study found that institutional autonomy has generally promoted efficiency and flexibility in the operation of these institutions and allowed adaptability and responsiveness to changing social and economic conditions which in turn, have enabled private higher education to contribute significantly to the on-going transformation of Chinese society. However, such autonomy is subject to both external internal constraints and problems, including some restrictive government policies, the lack of financial resources and inexperience in private school operation.

The study focuses on the service quality of Damelin College in Pietermaritzburg. Damelin College strives to ensure that students extract every promising benefit their courses. Damelin College aims at being a provider of quality, learner -focused education. The various opinions and attitudes of students regarding the service quality at Damelin College is investigated using questionnaires. This study covers the service quality aspects of private tertiary institutions. Data for the study was collected at Damelin College using a random sample of two hundred participants. The service quality of Damelin is discussed in detail as well as the theory of quality dimensions. The significance of service quality for tertiary institutions is a major aspect and all students need to receive the most appropriate form of respect and understanding. The high commercialized fees that students pay needs to be equate to the standard of the education that they receive. In relation to the problem statement, the research objectives are as follows: 1. To measure the impact of the service quality in private tertiary institutions. 2. To undertake an empirical analysis of the linkage between private tertiary institutions. 3. To investigate what aspects contribute to the choice of a private institution in which to study. 4. To determine how service quality influences where to study. Private institutions, who want to gain a competitive edge, may need to begin searching for effective ways to attract, retain and foster strong relationships with students. The service quality dimensions are tangibility, responsiveness, reliability, assurance, empathy, overall service quality and student satisfaction. / Thesis (M.Com.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2012.

Thesis (Ed. D.)--University of Toronto, 2004. / Adviser: Angela Hildyard.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Illinois State University, 2002. / Title from title page screen, viewed January 26, 2006. Dissertation Committee: William C. Rau, George Padavil (co-chairs), James Palmer, Phyllis McCluskey-Titus. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 115-120) and abstract. Also available in print.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Illinois State University, 2002. / Title from title page screen, viewed February 2, 2006. Dissertation Committee: James C. Palmer (chair), William Tolone, Albert Azinger, George Padavil. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 123-126) and abstract. Also available in print.