One of America's distinguished social observers describes the impact of meritocratic standards on Harvard University over the past 4 decades. (Editor)

Dissatisfied with recent educational accomplishments under Mao, the new regime is purging radicals from the universities and raising the banner of intellectual standards. (Editor/LBH)

Two educators discuss the advantages and disadvantages of no-need scholarships. A national program of scholarships for high school students about to enter college is advocated by one while the other sees the no-need scholarships as weakening the principle that academic achievement should be its own reward. (MLW)

The astonishing success rate for students taking the College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) tests has resulted in large numbers of college sophomores who have never been freshmen. Implications of this fact are discussed along with an assessment of the CLEP examinations themselves. (LBH)

The current emphasis on excellence, it is suggested, is used as an excuse to exclude. The more people who are educated, the greater the possibility that collective decisions will be of better quality. Higher education must become more open and more inclusive. (MLW)

Steps taken by various states and individual institutions to determine a minimum level of accomplishment among students and to define the basic components of a college education are outlined. These include curriculum evaluations, standards review, and testing. (JMF)