Organizational attributes and responses of 56 small to medium-sized colleges that experienced enrollment decline over a 4-year period were investigated. Administrators and faculty members completed surveys that included items concerning institutional agreement on mission and responses to decline. Each college had experienced decline in full-time…

Results of research on predictors of organizational responses to declining enrollments at 56 small to medium-sized colleges and universities are discussed. Decline was experienced from 1978-1979 to 1981-1982. Severity of decline was selected as an objective predictor of organizational response, while internal agreement on mission and attributions…

Two perspectives on decline are identified: environmental constraints and organizational process and choice. Each perspective is described, identified, and tested on a sample of small-to-medium size universities and colleges. The results indicate that organizational responses to decline are shaped by how members perceive decline. (Author/MLW)

Approaches to studying enrollment decline are compared and limitations and advantages associated with each method in predicting response to decline are assessed. The literature is reviewed to identify research perspectives on decline. Variables consistent with each perspective are identified and measured on a sample of 56 small- to medium-sized…