Examines issues of quality in higher education in relation to economic concepts of productivity. Suggests that the debate between definitions of productivity that focus on costs and traditional concepts of quality may affect policy decisions in how campuses use information technology. (DB)

Traditional assumptions about the balance of teaching and research in the college faculty workload, as well as administrative structures and academic support services, are no longer affordable. They must be redesigned to be more cost effective if higher education is to meet the rising demand. (MSE)

A discussion of accreditation in higher education looks at current external criticisms and internal weaknesses of the system and suggests that to continue this privilege of self-regulation, higher education must address issues of educational quality and revise the accreditation model to be more effective. (MSE)

Five false notions about higher education threaten its health: (1) deregulation of federal money will make it easier to obtain and manage aid; (2) consumerism in higher education is a passing fad; (3) college outcome assessments are impossible, so the accreditation debate will diminish; (4) accreditation will become easier; and (5) all these…

As distance learning brings changes to traditional higher-education institutions and creates new educational providers, the college or university governing board must reexamine issues of institutional purpose, quality, and finance. Outlines questions for boards to ask, and cites a study of current institutional response to trends in distance…

College trustees should be aware of the latest round of federal regulations because they threaten to impose unprecedented government control on colleges and universities. Some regulations signal an expansion of the federal role into a broader effort to improve and monitor quality in higher education. (Author/MSE)

In an era when colleges must work hard to recruit students, understanding college-bound student views and concerns is critical. Trends are apparent in student expectations of the college experience and services, costs and quality, curricular offerings, job market, and extracurricular opportunities. (MSE)