Economic news today is filled with discussion about whether the United States has entered a recession. For the author and other presidents of public colleges and universities, whether the downturn can be labeled a recession is far less important than dealing with the effects of economic conditions on institutions. During hard times, both public…

This publication contains budget recommendations from the Alabama Commission on Higher Education for the state's higher education institutions in 2001-2002. Section A contains the 2001-2002 unified budget recommendations executive summary, while Section B presents the program detail. Section C contains funding formulas and describes the processes…

A study was done of Californians' attitudes toward public higher education and its future in comparison to attitudes across the nation. The study conducted eight focus groups in California and used those findings to generate hypotheses tested through two telephone surveys. A California survey was conducted with 832 residents 18 years of age or…

In "New York Times Co. v. Sullivan," the Supreme Court held that the First Amendment protects news media defendants from libel suits by public officials and public figures. Public college and university administrators are considered to be public officials under this ruling. To prevail in defamation cases, public plaintiffs must prove…

The strategy for financing public higher education of using high tuition and student aid assumes, erroneously, that targeting subsidies directly to the needy makes a more equitable system, that the public will support the high-aid end of the equation, and that current and future students can repay debt. (MSE)

This report presents the results of a review of course withdrawal and forgiveness policies at public community colleges and state universities in Florida, with a view toward standardizing such policies that impact articulation, the transfer of credit, and credit-hours-to-degree. It recommends that: (1) forgiveness, withdrawal, and incomplete…

This report analyzes the following issues affecting public higher education: student charges; deferred maintenance; state fiscal conditions; the National Retention Project; and prepaid tuition plans. In each section, the report includes an overview of the issue, and presents highlights, findings, analyses, extensive charts and graphs, and…

The 16 essays in this volume address the premise that the success of a college or university related foundation is directly proportional to the strength and quality of its relationship with its host institution. Papers are organized into four sections on: genesis and evolution of institutionally related foundations, their structure and function,…

Applies economic theory to questions concerning the public financing of two-year colleges. Highlights two analytical constructs used in recommending educational policy: the principle of externalities and the theory of human capital. Considers the effect of academic/vocational program mix on educational financing and issues of equity and access.…

Five public higher-education officials, including a former lawmaker, discuss how "citizen boards" of public colleges and universities deal with the inherent conflicts and ambiguities between the interests and ambitions of their institution and the financial, strategic, and public-policy demands of their state. They describe how they…

This report on postsecondary enrollment trends in Minnesota was prepared in response to questions from state legislators concerning significant declines in enrollments at Minnesota state colleges and universities. Text, tables, and graphs provide a quantitative analysis of data derived primarily from the state higher education services office and…

This report addresses the future financing of higher education, focusing primarily on the states and presenting state-by-state data on important trends. It assesses the outlook for state finances, and, in the context of the ongoing needs of other major state services, for state support of higher education. In examining the forecast of state and…

This article argues that the debate over the public's right to know versus a public college or university's need to make some decisions in private often generates more heat than light, and that the most important interactions put at risk by open-meeting acts and sunshine laws involve board dynamics. Some suggestions are made for minimizing this…

This paper reviews the development of the public monopoly of degree-granting institutions of higher education in Ontario, Canada. It examines arguments for private universities which suggest improved accessibility, diversity, and quality and finds the arguments to be insufficiently strong. A recommendation is made for improvement of Ontario's…

This report identifies and discusses some key findings of a data base project that analyzed public finance of public education over 35 years in California. It seeks to understand the relationship between state policy, as expressed in the Master Plan for Higher Education, and financial support of higher education. Among findings highlighted are the…