The recent economic downturn has had a serious effect on public higher education, and problems will linger for some years hence. The impact of this disinvestment has been particularly severe for the University of California. The dramatic decrease in state funding has necessitated large relative increases in education and registration fees for our…

Public cuts in financial support have hurt public colleges and students. The author argues that the fault lies in part with the colleges themselves. Many public-university administrators are incapable of convincing political and business leaders of the need for financial support because they are no longer fully convinced themselves. They have…

Nearly 20 years ago, before e-mails, listservs, and blogs, the author had participated in an intense discussion with a group of early childhood education and care (ECEC) program directors about the pros and cons of publicly funded pre-kindergarten (pre-K). They debated about how universal pre-K (UPK) might impact the cost of infant and toddler…

State-level funding formulas should be changed from enrollment-based to fixed cost-based, using standards such as those of the Association of Research Libraries. Funding linked with programmatic changes encourages quality of the institution and rewards effective library management. (CDD)

Spurred to action by Governor Thomas H. Kean, New Jersey recently instituted a system of financial incentives for colleges and universities that propose innovative improvements in undergraduate education. An interview with the governor conducted by Frank Newman, the president of the Education Commission of the States, is presented. (MLW)

This paper focuses on pre-kindergarten programs, defined by four characteristics: the programs are supported by state funds, focused on early learning for school success or school readiness, aimed at children of pre-kindergarten age (under 5 years, usually 3 to 4 years), and designed to deliver group learning experiences at least several days a…

Independent and public institutions must work together to demonstrate the importance of higher education to national prosperity and national security. State governments must provide financial support that ensures equal opportunity and adequate salary levels and supports high-cost programs. (MLW)

In a reaction to an article by Chester E. Finn, Jr., it is contended that federal dollars have provided the essential margin that makes for quality and gives institutions more independence. Loss of federal dollars would not be taken up by the states or the private sector. (MLW)

Ronald Reagan's effect on higher education as governor of California and what effect he might have on U.S. colleges and universities if elected president are described. Three points are discussed: deep conservatism of Reagan, his passivity, and Reagan's relative disinterest in higher education. (MLW)

Discusses the conflicting goals of school finance reform--educational equity, equality, and excellence--and their effects on the district power equalizing (DPE) method of achieving school equity. Describes the experiences with DPE in California, Ohio, Illinois, and Michigan. (RW)

The belief that fiscal support of a postsecondary institution is directly related to its overall excellence has been generally accepted and used as an argument when seeking funds for achieving excellence. Problems arise, however, in citing specific data to substantiate this claim. To determine the effect of changes in fiscal support on the quality…

Financial problems that are being experienced by colleges and universities in Manitoba, Canada, likely results of these problems, and actions that might be taken are discussed by the president of University of Winnipeg. Provincial aid to universities in Manitoba has been inadequate. One major consequence resulting from financial problems is…

In 1971, Washington was identified as one of the seven pacesetter states in the community college movement. Today, Washington ranks 48th nationwide in terms of state support for community colleges, with little hope that the economic situation will improve given the present tax structure. As a consequence, the lack of economic growth in the state…

Some states are using rewards and incentives to entice public colleges and universities to improve quality and meet long-term state goals. Performance funding generally represents a small portion of an institution's budget but appears to substantially affect institutional performance, lessen funding fluctuations, and promote funding stability.…

Presents a dissenting view on the question of racial separation in higher education. It argues that the decision in Brown v. Board of Education was racist and that integration does not guarantee equality. The author states that all-black colleges are not inherently unequal and that separatism is a free and conscious choice in the context of…