Being small is a practical decision for many colleges, given the constraints of the real world. It also offers the potential for a school to become distinctive and excellent at what they do. According to Dr. Gary Daynes, small colleges and universities can discover their points of excellence and distinctiveness by looking in three places: core commitments, honest strengths, and true student needs. Gary discusses practical ways for small colleges to build on their points of distinction to become better, stronger, and more resilient.

For a generation, small colleges have grown by imitating larger institutions. Now they find themselves hindered by untenable programs and infrastructure. Author Gary Daynes points out false assumptions about growth, scale, and prestige. Rather than continue to mimic big schools, he recommends five practices for small colleges to right-size their programs and infrastructure to better serve students and the community.

Demographic, economic, and social trends do not favor small colleges. It is harder than ever to enroll students and cover operating expenses. All the more reason for small colleges to embrace their smallness and stop mimicking larger institutions. Author Gary Daynes talks about how small colleges can survive by being true to their nature.

Small colleges are the lifeblood of hundreds of communitiesin the United States, and they've provided outstanding education to millions of students, many of whom owe their success to their small college experience. Today, though, they find themselves in peril with declining influence and shrinking enrollments. Their challenges, in turn, spill over into the communities that support them.

Colleges will learn to be good inasmuch as they learn to be true to who they are. Being true to who you are depends much less on following best practices and much more on learning from the particularities of the place, students, staff, and faculty at a school. Small colleges think of themselves as particular places. They need to act that way.

Gary and Kristine Daynes incorporated Back Porch Consulting in November 2020, six months into the COVID pandemic. It responded to the need for people to discuss share their concerns and advice for sustaining our community, its small private college, and the numerous small, local businesses through the crisis. The new podcast series--On the Back Porch Talking Higher Education--opens the conversation to anyone involved in work that enlivens small places and small organizations.

This new podcast series explores the challenges and triumphs of small, private colleges and universities. It is produced by Kristine Daynes and hosted by her partner, Gary Daynes. Join them as they support the people whose work enlivens small places and small organizations.