Hope for Privates

Private colleges have been pleading poverty in recent years--most eloquently in fund-raising letters mailed out to alumni. Some of the larger, research-oriented universities like Harvard, Columbia, Stanford and Chicago have reason to complain; lately their federal research grants, which represent much of their funding, have been drastically cut. But the case for most of the smaller colleges may well have been overdramatized. Last week the Association of American Colleges, which represents 886 of the smaller private institutions, reported that most of these schools are financially solvent and academically strong--perhaps even stronger than ever.

Staying Power. The report, prepared by Howard R. Bowen, former president of California's Claremont Graduate School, and W. John Minter, an educational consultant, was based on a survey of 100 private colleges from 1969 into early 1975. Despite the depressed economy, the report noted that no major private colleges or universities have failed. Although about one-fourth of those surveyed are on shaky financial ground, the total assets of the 100 schools grew by 26%, while their Liabilities were rising by 18%. Income from private gifts went up 34%; government grants showed a 65% increase.

Academically, too, the schools have been making progress. In the past five years, the number of new or expanded on-campus programs--women's studies, career counseling and intercollegiate athletics, for example--far exceeds the number reduced in scope or dropped entirely. Finally, contrary to the widely held belief that enrollment at private colleges has been steadily declining, the total enrollment in the schools surveyed has actually risen 8% since 1969.*

These statistics offer little solace to those schools that are financially strapped; they still need generous support from alumni, business and government. But in general, the report concludes, private colleges have "enormous staying power. They are still a viable and sturdy part of the American system of higher education."

* The Department of Health, Education and Welfare reported last week that total college enrollment this fall reached 11,128,000, a jump of 8.8% over last year and the largest increase since 1965.

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