State policy makers may have assumed that, because for-profit colleges receive up to 90 percent of their funds through the U.S. Department of Education and additional funds for serving military and veteran students, overseeing them is primarily a federal responsibility. But in fact, federal oversight has been demonstrated to be inadequate, and the…

The long history of volunteerism in America has its roots in colonial religious and educational enterprises. From the beginning, colleges and universities have been independently governed rather than subject to national or state control. This autonomy is a uniquely American tradition. Over the centuries, the work of academic governing…

This revised edition updates Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges' (AGB's) list of governing board responsibilities, emphasizing board accountability, academic quality and board member conduct. Especially useful in the formal orientation process for new board members, and as a refresher for returning board members. A list…

The comprehensive reports released by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism's (NIAAA's) Task Force on College Drinking turned a national spotlight on the problem of harmful drinking among college students. The central report, "A Call to Action: Changing the Culture of Drinking at U.S. Colleges," has proven influential in the…

This digest is based on a full-length report (with the same title) on advisory committees to universities and colleges. Under decreased resources and increased pressures for more accountability, advisory committees are an effective way for colleges and universities to connect with their environments. An advisory committee is a group of volunteers…

This report addresses the advisory committee's role in the administration of institutions of higher education. Under decreased resources and increased pressures for more accountability, advisory committees are an effective way to help connect universities and colleges to their environments. Advisory committees may range from those that consult to…

Trustees often confess to confusion about the responsibility of the governing board for the academic programs and policies of higher education institutions. During the 20th century, the teaching and research missions of American colleges and universities progressively became the special domain of the faculty. As academic disciplines became…

This booklet presents a revision of the American Council on Education policy statement regarding sexual harassment in light of legal developments that have occurred since the original publication of the statement in December 1986. Among the changes in the statement is the inclusion of a non-exhaustive list of conduct which has great potential to…

This speech focuses on the protection of institutional autonomy in higher education. The speaker opens by offering some of his own basic beliefs. The balance of the paper considers three key issues central to institutional autonomy. The first issue involves specific threats to autonomy: the socio-cultural mistrust of authority and institutions,…

This background paper on institutional lending examines institutional lender policy in the Stafford Student Loan Program, the study of which was mandated in the 1986 reauthorization of the Higher Education Act. The paper's particular purpose, however, is to familiarize the reader with the general operation of programs and the historical…

This paper focuses on four functions common to colleges and universities that can be a source of liability when plaintiffs seek to impose on the school duties of care relating to alcohol or drug abuse: the college's limited role (1) as supervisor of student conduct; (2) as property owner; (3) as seller of alcohol; and (4) as "social…

This publication offers a summary of a symposium designed to elicit dialogue on the costs and benefits of eliminating the restrictions on institutional lending in the Stafford Loan Program. Approximately 100 people, representing postsecondary institutions, commercial lenders, guaranty agencies, secondary markets, loan servicing groups, and…

A study on the missions of postsecondary education providers in England identified a range of practice in establishing an institutional mission and presented proposals for the effective development and review of institutional missions. Phase 1 of the project involved research and analysis. A brief literature review focused on mission statement…

This booklet discusses due process for institutions of higher education and how principles of due process should shape the design of institutional procedures for resolution of conflicts affecting students, faculty, academic programs, and research. The booklet defines and explains various area of conflict, the role of due process, and key legal…

This booklet on sexual harassment in higher education offers a history of the problem, defines sexual harassment, reviews the relevant legal history and recent court cases, and looks at campus policies and procedures. Following an introductory chapter, Chapter 2 looks at legal versus institutional definitions of sexual harassment and factors…