Even when mutual benefits can be cited, individual campus cultures, traditions as well as alumni, student, and faculty pride tend to overshadow deliberations. What we are likely to see are increases in partnerships and collaboratives that serve to pool resources or expand markets. In certain instances consortium arrangements serve to help stem competition among members but just as likely, institutions band together to either preserve or gain access to program areas that may be threatened by emerging competition. Partnerships involving community colleges and four year institutions, professional and more traditional schools, targeted corporate and college program or degree specific arrangements, and the trend to band together to develop an e-network of programs appear to be the most likely avenues for growth. There is also an emerging reality that reflects corporate actions to purchase colleges in order to build an international base for educational operations.
Cooperative ventures are likely to be encouraged by governing and policy boards years to come.
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