THE CHRONICLE OF HIGHER EDUCATION — Last month, Michigan State University was met with widespread scorn after it was reported that a senior administrator there had asked faculty and staff members to volunteer in the dining halls on nights and weekends because of a worker shortage. Despite the outrage the request produced, the situation that led to it is not unique. Colleges throughout the U.S. in recent months have faced a similar struggle in keeping their operations staffed enough to run smoothly.