The "IDRA Newsletter" serves as a vehicle for communication with educators, school board members, decision-makers, parents, and the general public concerning the educational needs of all children across the United States. The focus of this issue is "Education Policy." Contents include: (1) Texas Legislature Concentrates on…

This article reports on four United States studies of how rewards systems, extrinsic and intrinsic, could play an important role in providing incentives for university faculty to teach (or remain teaching) electronic and distance education courses. The first three studies conducted prior to 2003 reported faculty were inherently motivated to teach…

This brief report surveys the various ways in which institutions of higher learning compensate supplemental faculty workload. The survey, which achieved a 91 percent response rate, was conducted of 42 universities enrolling over 18,000 students. The survey asked about the length of academic terms and the methods used to write faculty supplemental…

The applicability of the principle of comparable pay for comparable worth is discussed for college faculty jobs, not only for alleviation of sex discrimination but also for eliminating bias-related discrepancies between departments or specialties. (MSE)

Argues that, although the high salaries of faculty "superstars" may disadvantage other faculty and staff, particularly in a period of downsizing, the more serious problem is the tradition of large discipline-based differences in faculty salaries which undermine the principles of merit-based compensation. Resentment of "superstar" salaries may have…

Explores salary data organized by academic rank using a sample of 78 graduate departments. Finds significant differences among the highest, lowest, and average salaries of assistant, associate, and full professors in private and public universities, and between schools in metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. Suggests a lag in supply may affect…

A survey of 314 male and female faculty in criminology and sociology found that faculty women are more likely than men to leave academic positions, and women who interrupt careers commonly do so for a job-seeking spouse. Women experience significant losses in tenure and earnings as a result of career disruptions. (MSE)

Reports on a U.S. Department of Education study of the employment and salary status of 1989-90 bachelor's degree recipients. Finds that college graduates with humanities and history majors are not faring as well as their counterparts in other fields as they enter the labor force. Includes two figures and one table comparing humanities graduates…

If Australian universities are to be competitive in the global market for college faculty, salaries and career prospects across disciplines and institutions must be improved. Award restructuring will strengthen career structures, but this restructuring must not be limited to lower levels of the profession to be effective. (MSE)

Research concerning the status of college students and college faculty at U.S. colleges and universities is summarized in a large chart (17 by 22 inches). Patterns in the college curriculum and instruction are also reviewed. The information reflects many positive changes for women in postsecondary education. It also shows that, more than a decade…

Although a casual analysis might suggest that a faculty member cannot afford a two-term sabbatical leave, factors affecting income loss from sabbaticals have changed. These include an increase in the number of two-income households, general increases in salary levels, and substantial revisions in federal tax law. Income loss from sabbaticals,…

Issues arising from the increasing use of part-time college faculty as an institutional cost-management strategy are discussed, including implications for faculty joining unions, tenure, governance and administrative hierarchy, faculty workload, quality of education, and public confidence in higher education. The trend is seen as ultimately…

An examination of national data on dental educators' salaries since 1975 compares average salaries for basic and clinical science faculty, relates faculty salaries to changes in the Consumer Price Index (since 1976), and tracks faculty salaries in constant dollars. A brief analysis of results accompanies data graphs. (MSE)

The major legal issues pertaining to academic employment are examined. Four areas affecting higher education are analyzed in depth: employment practices, equal pay, developing issues under Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972; and financial exigency. In addition, guidelines for evaluating current institutional academic employment practices…

Examination of college faculty salaries across disciplines suggests that the traditional academic wage scale is increasingly stressed by academic labor market forces. This trend has implications for faculty morale and commitment, turnover, faculty encouragement of students to pursue academic careers, and the relationship of the reward system to…