In a lawsuit brought by six Virginia public university professors, a federal district court ruled that access to Internet material for academic purposes was a matter of public concern and that plaintiffs' interest in that material outweighed the state's regulating interests. The Fourth Circuit's reversal gave the state extensive authority over…

This article describes a 4-day pilot science program attended by 19 inner city, at-risk high school students during their winter holiday break. The program was a collaborative effort involving a local education agency, a higher education institution, and a museum of natural history. Its main purpose was developing and implement science activities…

Thirty years of federal student aid have increased the chances that low-income individuals will go to college, but the gap in college attendance between low- and high-income families has not changed much. Academic underpreparation among low-income groups, more federal student aid for the middle class, and rising tuition at state institutions…

Despite pressure from Congress and faculty, and a series of revisions in federal regulations, the average rate charged the government by universities for overhead for federally financed research appears remains high. Average rate for the top 100 research institutions is over 50%; most of the highest rates are at private institutions; all the…

The 22-member Commission on the Academic Presidency has examined the present higher education governance system in a context of rapid and substantial change. It found the presidency significantly weakened, particularly in the public sector, and has recommended a reform of shared governance and the president-board relationship. Key recommendations…

Hungary's political leaders are stepping up pressure on state-supported colleges and universities to make substantive changes in their organization, administration, and curricula, after several years of aborted experiments in consolidating the system. The government says it can no longer afford to support the existing higher education system, and…

Trends in undergraduate, graduate, and professional enrollment in public and private colleges since 1976 are charted, and the changes in salient student characteristics are discussed, including the increase in the proportion of part-time and female students. The role of institutional efforts to cultivate new constituencies is emphasized. (MSE)

Presents statistical data that reveals the progress of African Americans in postsecondary education. The data cover racial inequality, graduation rates for black students in general, and graduation rates for black athletes in particular, and the black presence in the fields of engineering, performing arts, and fine arts. (GLR)

A study at one public university investigated the annualized rate of salary/wage increase of employees from the time of hiring until July 1992. It examined promotion patterns, equity adjustments, employee degree acquisition, and certification of clerical workers. The study underscored the wide variation in earnings growth rates due in large part…

Reports on changes in pricing decisions at public and private colleges in a low-cost and a high-cost state in the 1980s. Five liberal arts colleges studied used several pricing strategies: "elite" pricing strategy; "prestige" pricing strategy; and price reduction strategy. Study found multiple causes for price increases, more sophisticated pricing…

A study attempted to identify the college types that benefit most from federal student aid by examining how institutional quality, institutional mission, and average student costs of attendance covaried with students' average grant, loan, and work-study aid awards in 254 4-year public and 499 4-year private colleges and universities. (Author/MSE)

Examines a number of trends in higher education that threaten to undermine the status, role, and even existence of liberal arts colleges. Looks at competitive marketing, merit-based student financial aid, private support for state schools, and the heavy influence of price on student choice. Keeping these factors in mind can allow universities to…

A study analyzed factors affecting peer assessments of faculty quality and program effectiveness using the 1993 National Research Council graduate program survey. Results indicate determinants for faculty quality and program effectiveness are very similar. Further, programs in private institutions and/or institutions with more highly rated…

When considering the issues associated with addressing faith, spirituality, and religion on campus, it is important for student affairs professionals, especially those at public colleges and universities, to be cognizant of the associated legal issues. The Constitution protects the freedom of religious exercise and against the establishment of…

This qualitative study compared and contrasted the perceptions of roles, support, and mission of campus ministers at a large public and a small private institution in the southeastern United States. Semi-structured interviews of campus ministers, representing a variety of faith traditions, were conducted and analyzed.