Strategies used by small liberal arts colleges to maintain adequate enrollment levels were assessed, with attention to colleges that were classified as private liberal arts II colleges by the Carnegie Commission. The baccalaureate degree was the highest degree offered by the colleges in programs in the arts and sciences and in teacher preparation. Only those colleges with 1985 enrollment of between 650 and 1,500 students were considered. The survey developed for this study was sent to each institution in an intentional sample of 79 colleges; a total of 55 completed instruments was returned for a response rate of 70 percent. Those institutions consisted of 20 colleges with declining enrollment, 14 with stable enrollment, and 21 whose enrollment was increasing. The findings indicate that these traditional liberal arts colleges as a whole have not greatly deviated from their liberal arts focus, at least philosophically. Use of the following adaptive strategies was assessed: changes to attract and retain students, receptiveness to change, and types of decision-making information in use. Use of interpretive strategy approaches were also considered: focus for the academic program, initiative with external groups, communication and cooperation within the institution, presidential impact, and strength of institutional mission. Included are 19 references. (SW)