Strategic Methods for Departmental Growth within Higher Education in the U.S. during Tough Economic Times: A Case Study

Abstract

Abstract:The financial welfare of higher education institutions in the United States has long been tied to the country's economic well-being. While the fiscal impact of downturns on higher education is typically reported on a more macro level, the consequences can be felt campus-wide as the effects often trickle down to the departmental level by means of a reduced allocation of funding. As a result, many academic departments are left with the task of proving their institutional worth in order to be allotted the funds necessary for programmatic maintenance. The purpose of this paper is to report on the declining enrollment and shifts in students' academic focus of study across several years at a financially struggling institution, and to outline one department's approach to ensuring programmatic viability through use of strategic methods to garner institutional support by procuring more student majors.