Recently, two phenomena have been discussed in higher education-specific media: (1) the prevalence of institutional mergers to promote longevity; and (2) institutional rebranding to improve public perceptions and increase enrollment through enhanced and/or clarified missions (Wexler 2015). Although such has been reported in "The Chronicle of…

Before the sun rises most days, Dwight D. Jones is at the office. Since becoming superintendent of the Clark County School District (CCSD) in Nevada last December, 4:30 a.m. arrivals are common. To be sure, the challenges facing the nation's fifth-largest school district are great. The recession not just hit, but smacked, Nevada, and the Clark…

Nestled in the mountainous, southeastern Mexican state of Puebla, the University of the Americas-Puebla has been a distinguished institution with close ties to the United States. It was a popular study-abroad choice and enjoyed accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. However, under the tenure of Pedro Angel Palou Garcia,…

A survey indicates that declining resources, merging of programs, and loss of faculty positions characterize the changes in programs in higher education as a field of study and suggest an uncertain future. However, most programs see themselves as strong and programs that were prominent in the last decade remain so. (Author/MSE)