The current trend in equal-protection law is to reject the use of race-based, numerical formulas. However, in "Wessmann," a chief federal district judge in Massachusetts allowed race-based set-asides in the admission policy at Boston's three examination high schools. This decision, which is on appeal, has implications for school…

During the 1985 session of the Louisiana legislature, House Concurrent Resolution No. 110 was passed requiring that the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education study the possibility of instituting a state-wide multiple-curriculum system in Louisiana's public schools. Tasks of the resulting 19-member curriculum committee focused on a…

This report examines the affirmative action attitudes of 204,103 college freshmen from 473 colleges and universities nationwide and from four racial/ethnic groups: Whites, African Americans, Asian Americans, and Mexican Americans. The study addresses how and why student support for affirmative action in higher education admissions depends on how…

This report responds to the California Maritime Academy's plan to develop a student affirmative action plan to address the needs of underrepresented, women, and low-income students. The report concludes that the final version of the plan (attached as an appendix) provides a good beginning for the changes that must occur at the Academy if…

Backed by the federal government, the excellence movement in education has advocated higher college admissions requirements and reliance on nationally administered standardized tests. Although intended to benefit the public welfare, these recommendations actually discourage learners considered less worthy. When discussing the movement's mental…

Uses Colombian data to examine the impact on equity if ability, rather than willingness to pay private school costs, determined which secondary school graduates enter postsecondary education. Results show that individuals from lower socioeconomic strata would gain by this reform mechanism, but that the proportion of female students would decline.…

A study examined the college and later-life experiences of over 35,000 students, almost 3000 of whom were black, entering 28 selective colleges in 1976 and 1989. Results suggest that if universities were flatly prohibited from considering race in admissions, over half the black students in selective colleges today would have been rejected.…

The College Admissions Practices Project examined the effects of rising admissions standards on postsecondary minority enrollment. A national survey of 158 institutions gathered data on changes since 1980 in the following areas: enrollment, faculty data, admissions practices, and racially motivated incidents on campus. In addition, questions were…

The history of affirmative action, current requirements, myths concerning these requirements for higher education, and the responsibilities of college trustees are considered. Affirmative action is defined as follows: steps taken to ensure that there is nondiscrimination and equal opportunity in employment and educational programs; result-oriented…

This book brings together the essential aspects of good graduate admissions policies, procedures, and practices. It is maintained at the outset that graduate administrators and faculty should take an active approach to admissions, stating their program goals and priorities and the means by which they plan to realize them. The booklet goes on to…

Describes a survey of electrical engineering education departments at 147 universities to find out if the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) were used in the admissions process and under what conditions. Tabulates the data according to GRE requirements. Discusses the purposes of requiring the GRE in admissions. (CW)

This handbook provides an overview of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and aims to help medical schools to review and refine their institutional policies to conform with the ADA. The background section describes the 1973 Rehabilitation Act which prohibits discrimination solely on the basis of disability of an "otherwise…

Examines the relevance and contribution of universities to national development in economic, sociocultural, and political dimensions. Discusses rates of return, employment, vocational curricula, equality, and ideology. Concludes that a major problem in developing nations is ambivalence of universities stemming from their international and national…

This guide describes the admission criteria utilized by faculties of education in 50 postsecondary institutions in Canada, arranged by province. For each entry the following information is provided: a listing of the teacher education programs, selection requirements and procedures for various types of degree programs; statistics on 1992-93…

The summer "bridge" part of the Special Transitional Enrichment Program (STEP) at the University of California (UC), Davis, was evaluated with attention to first-year academic performance and retention. STEP, part of the Educational Opportunity Program (EOP), is an orientation and academic program to help low-income and minority students…