Describes two national-level collaborations among urban public universities: Restructuring for Urban Student Success (RUSS) and the Urban Universities Portfolio Project (UUPP). RUSS developed and studied approaches to improving performance and retention among urban college students, particularly first-years. UUPP was designed to enhance…

John C. Sawhill became president of New York University (NYU) and balanced its budget in a year. His administration of the university, his personality, NYU's financial situation and the subsequent reforms, fund raising, faculty morale and governance, and efforts to improve the university's academic reputation are discussed. (JMD)

A view of events at City College of New York during the 1970s when an open admissions policy was initiated is discussed by the eighth president of the college. At CUNY, the objective was to provide remediation, counseling, and tutoring in order to maximize the possibility of success. (MLW)

Four books are reviewed including: "Fostering Minority Access and Achievement in Higher Education" (a Ford Foundation study by Richard Richardson and Lewis Bender); "In Pursuit of Equality in Higher Education" (Anne Pruitt); "Latino College Students" (Michael Olivas); and "Toward Undergraduate Student Quality in…