Participation Type
Panel
Session Title
Private Higher Education in Appalachia
Session Abstract or Summary
Almost every college in the nation is struggling – except the elite colleges such as Princeton, with an endowment of $2.5 million PER STUDENT--but none struggle as hard as the small private colleges in rural America. No one in Washington seems to recognize that these colleges provide a service that other colleges will not be able to fulfill if this sector of higher education continues to weaken. The students being nurtured by these small liberal arts colleges are not likely to attend a college outside their culture or to thrive if they attend an institution that does not understand or support them as the small residential regional colleges do. This session considers who should be speaking for these institutions and who can provide the leadership to keep them vital. The presenters have recently published How Boards Lead Small Colleges ( Johns Hopkins University Press) explaining that trustees have the final responsibility, but they need training and encouragement to understand their role. Trustees need to choose presidents who know the region and embrace the mission, and they need to understand how to support faculty who may be overworked with little time or interest for governance while they have the front line responsibility for helping their students succeed.
Presentation #1 Title
Private Colleges in Appalachia: Who Speaks for Them; Who Leads Them?
Presentation #1 Abstract or Summary
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At-A-Glance Bio- Presenter #1
Alice Brown: Degrees from Appalachian State and U. of Kentucky; taught at 2 high schools, Appalachian State, Ohio University, Eastern KY University, and UK. Worked in Conferences and Institutes at EKU and led KY Elderhostel and the Appalachian College Association. With funding from various foundations, she has recently completed a study on Sweet Briar College and published 4 books: Cautionary Tales; Changing Course (with Sandy Ballard), Staying the Course, and How Boards Lead Small Colleges (with Elizabeth Hayford).Aliceleebrown@gmail.com.
Presentation #2 Title
Private Colleges in Appalachia: Who speaks for Them; Who Leads them?
Presentation #2 Abstract or Summary
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At-A-Glance Bio- Presenter #2
Elizabeth Hayford: Degrees from Radcliffe, Harvard and Tufts University, as well as studying Arabic in London. Taught history, worked as academic dean, and led a consortium of liberal arts colleges in the Midwest. Following retirement, she taught Higher Education Administration and Policy at Northwestern University. Ehayford@gmail.com.
Private Colleges in Appalachia: Who Speaks for Them; Who Leads Them?
See above
