Enrollment

Students aren't flocking to programs to cram a full courseload in one day, but the ability to be on campus just two days a week may have staying power.

As higher ed productivity project unveils new grants, several aim to help states more closely tie colleges' funding to their success in getting students through.

In the realm of international student recruiting, “A lot of agents will just send out blanket e-mails to universities saying, ‘Oh, I would like to be your representative,’ ” says Sabine Klahr, director of international programs at Boise State University. “We don’t answer those e-mails typically."

“There are no standards at this point,” Klahr explains. “You could work with agents throughout the world who are not" -- she pauses, searching for the right word -- "they are not reputable business people, essentially. How do you know that you can trust them?”

Private colleges continue to report concerns about steep enrollment declines, but few have seen them yet, a survey by their national association finds.

Idea of shaving a year off of college completion time gains attention. Some see ideal way to cut costs for students and institutions, others see a gimmick, and -- to date -- students haven't embraced it.

Colleges ask students' immigration status, but how and whether they verify legality varies -- as does whether they admit applicants known to be in the U.S. illegally.

First or second generation African Americans found to be much more likely than other black students -- and more likely than white students -- to attend selective colleges.

Catholic University of America may soon have a new freshman curriculum, which some critics say amounts to a new commandment: Thou Shalt Read Homer.

Even as many colleges report increased student applications, administrators remain deeply worried about what will happen to enrollments this fall, given the economic turmoil facing many families. A new survey of parents of current college students suggests that college leaders' concerns are legitimate, but that the damage may not be as severe as they fear.

Community colleges and for-profit universities are seeing expected enrollment increases due to the down economy, but students are flocking to many four-year colleges this summer, too -- and finding friendlier aid policies at some institutions.