ABSTRACT
University administrators and trustees certainly face a formidable litany of problems: declining governmental support at both the state and federal level, rising costs, increasing competition for the best and brightest students, growing concerns over institutional rankings, bitter ideological battles over the direction and substance of the curriculum, pressure from governmental agencies for more accountability, and expectations from constituents that higher education not only be a substantial contributor to the economy’s health but also assure individuals attractive positions in that economy. These pressures, coupled with the success of for-profit higher education companies, motivated many college officials to consider the Internet and the corporate sector as a possible antidote. The for-profit subsidiary appeared to be a solution to almost everyone’s problems.
