In a matter of weeks, America’s colleges and universities, public and private, large and small, will be open for business.

There is considerable uncertainty with the storm clouds caused by the ailing economy, and those who usually make bold predictions are guarded, perhaps as never before.

What I anticipate is:

• Slight increases in enrollment at four-year state institutions, caused, in part, by young men and women who cannot afford to attend private colleges.

• Prestigious private colleges will hold their own.

• For the first time ever, community colleges will exceed the number of undergraduates at four-year colleges and universities.

• Among the missing will be youngsters who decided to enlist in the Armed Forces and earn benefits to allow them to pursue a degree at a later date.

• Minority enrollments will be down slightly due to economic restraints, and the number of African-American males attending colleges will continue to slide;

• More and more unemployed adults will return to campus, hoping to enhance their qualifications and changes for employability.

• There will be unprecedented efforts by college foundations to assist as many students as possible.

• Most state funds will be stretched in the areas of financial aid;

• Colleges and universities will advertise extensively about, and hopefully fill, all campus jobs for students.

• Faculty and staff will be asked to do more with less at all public colleges and universities.

• Class sizes will swell, especially at the already understaffed community colleges.

• Library hours will be cut.

• Too many college graduates will leave campus with heavy debt because of college loans;

• Interest in the health sciences will soar, with increased numbers of able minority students seeing both financial opportunity and the chance to serve, especially in their home communities.

• The president of the United States will make every effort to assist higher education but he will be limited with the costs of two wars and health care and an uncertain economy.

• And lastly, you can assume there will even more public focus on college football and basketball, largely as entertainment and partly as diversion from the many troubling realities of the day.

As one who spent 22 years as a university chancellor/president and professor, I sincerely hope to be wrong on certain of these observations but fear most will pass the test of time.