Fiscal and programmatic controls that have been applied to different types of federal grants are described. It is suggested that a simplification of grant program structure is necessary to establish priorities and ways or controls to pursue these priorities. (CJ)

Highlights program activities of the commission, and considers projected effects of the White House Conference on it. Future concerns are noted including the role of the school and public library, the needs of research and scholarship when knowledge is multiplying rapidly, and mediation between library and information services and users. (SW)

Provides an overview of copyright regulations and examines issues of special concern for distance educators, including ambiguities in fair-use regulations. Notes rules concerning exclusive rights of copyrights holders, fair-use provisions, factors used to determine fair-use eligibility, and exemptions for "face-to-face" instruction. Provides…

The National Commission on the Cost of Higher Education has rejected calls for federal intervention to reduce college costs, but warned that if institutions do not control costs, the government will be forced to intervene, which could destroy academic quality. While colleges appreciate the panel's sensitivity to college autonomy, some observers…

Discusses college and university obligations to collect, maintain, and provide information about foreign students to the government. Explores federal immigration rules relating to foreign students and examines the interaction between the Immigration and Naturalization Service's (INS) regulations and the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of…

American academics planning to attend an international conference on operations research in Cuba, including the keynote speaker, had to cancel plans when the Treasury Department did not approve licenses they needed to spend money in Cuba. They claim the lack of approval was for political reasons, but the government claims the application was…

National and state issues affecting university timesharing and personal computer resales are discussed. Background information on timesharing sales, microcomputer sales, and unrelated business income tax (UBIT) and unfair competition is presented. A checklist for actions college and university campuses can take to deal with these issues is…

Describes how the largest school district in Utah complied with the regulations for school safety--the Occupational Safety and Health Administration expanded chemical hazard communication standard and the Environmental Protection Agency Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act of 1986. (MLF)

The Department of Justice and the state of Louisiana have reached agreement on a desegregation plan that calls for establishment of a community college network and spending on new programs and buildings at predominantly black Southern University of Grambling State University. The state's governance system, criticized as fragmented, will remain.…

Researchers fear that revelations of risky human subject research will frighten potential future subjects, and debate continues over the government's policy on methodology. Some feel the government has strong safeguards in place; others feel the system gives universities too much power to monitor themselves. (MSE)

Discussion of the National Information Infrastructure and changes in telecommunications highlights the roles of the Clinton administration and the Department of Commerce; congressional activity, including regulatory committees; state regulations concerning local exchange carriers and cable television companies; the private sector; and the role of…

A federal appeals court has revised its opinion in a widely-watched copyright case, indicating that the ruling was not intended to apply to professors or independent scientists, but critics see the revision as even more confusing. The opinion found that copying scholarly journal articles by a corporate scientist did not qualify under the fair-use…

Includes three articles: the first presents rules and regulations from the "Federal Register" that focus on educational effectiveness in postsecondary institutions; the second discusses the appropriateness of various research methodologies for assessment and accountability of reference services; and the third examines data collection…

Discusses issues connected with the information superhighway and the National Information Infrastructure (NII). Topics addressed include principles for government action; economic benefits; regulations; applications; information policy; pending federal legislation; private sector/government relationship; open access and universal service; privacy…

A federal court ruled that Kinko's Graphics Corporation, a national chain of photocopying stores, infringed on publishers' copyrights by reproducing excerpts from books and selling them in anthologies for college students. The firm was judged to be engaged in the publishing business and thus not covered under the law's provision of fair use for…