Themes, impacts, and major recommendations are outlined for eight recent reports on educational quality: "Action for Excellence,""Academic Preparation for College,""A Nation at Risk,""The Paideia Proposal,""America's Competitive Challenge,""Meeting the Needs for Quality in the…

While the primary issue in the future of college student financial aid, pertaining especially to the role of the College Scholarship Service, is fairness in awarding aid in the context of extreme college aid competition, other issues include college quality and choice, who should pay for education, parental responsibility, educational…

An alternative view to a 1979 study on institutional quality done by Astin and Solomon is presented. The study indicates significant changes in rank have occurred among the 25 most selective four-year undergraduate institutions. Kuh proposes naturalistic inquiry research. A rebuttal by Astin is appended. (MLW)

Despite recent rejection of proposals for national reform of college accreditation, a well-established system of regional, voluntary self-regulation offers the best vehicle for correcting imbalance in educational quality assurance. The new Council for Higher Education Accreditation can help restore public faith in voluntary self-regulation by…

The appointment of Leon Botstein as president of Franconia College when he was 23 years old was a product of the times and a reminder of what he says is the collapse of generational politics. The campus has lost much of its character as a community. (MLW)

Seven suggestions are offered for enhancing the quality of college and university instruction, based on British experience: (1) define excellent teaching; (2) distinguish competence from excellence; (3) weight teaching in balance with research and service; (4) increase teacher sophistication; (5) promote excellent teaching, not just excellent…

The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching's report on collegiate education, "College," is discussed by Ernest L. Boyer. The undergraduate experience and quality, college teaching, assessment, the quality of campus life, student development, and general education are discussed. (MLW)

Borrowing has become the indispensable means for financing higher education, primarily through the Guaranteed Student Loan (GSL) program. The entire structure of expectations that sustains higher education has been transformed by debt, and incentives for borrowers and lenders have created student debt expansion. (MLW)

The national politics of American education have clustered around four major issues: the federal effort on behalf of minorities, the poor, and other disadvantaged groups; the national politics of private and religious schools; the quality of schooling as a concern of the federal government; and educational strategies for the government. (MLW)

Controversies and problems plaguing Nova University and especially its off-campus colleges, which grant diplomas in 23 states, are examined. Criticisms include claims that masters and doctoral degrees are handed out too readily, admission policies are ill defined, and instructors are not qualified. Nova's severe financial difficulty is also…

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…

The use of the Total Quality Management (TQM) approach by the University of Wisconsin-Madison Management approach to restructure the graduate school admissions process is described, and lessons learned from the venture are discussed. The resulting five-day admissions procedure now in place is outlined. (MSE)

Two recent reports (Boyer's "High School" and Goodlad's "A Place Called School") on the current state of U.S. education and the goals and means of improving it are discussed. It is concluded that public policy must match the needs expressed in these and other reports on education, and that it is critical to support the teacher and humanize…

Educational reform by Miami-Dade Community College is discussed by its president, Robert H. McCabe. In an action that is considered unusual for two-year schools, it has tightened controls on its curriculum, faculty, and students. A commitment to achieving higher levels of literacy is advocated. (MLW)

Implementation of the Total Quality Management approach in the Maricopa County Community College District (Arizona), a large 10-campus system, is described. The program's current early stages are reported noting the serious administrative commitment and thorough training, seen as key factors in potential success. (MSE)