This article discusses Sundar Kumarasamy and how he is remaking the rituals of recruitment at the University of Dayton. For years Sundar Kumarasamy walked through the lobby of the University of Dayton's admissions building and daydreamed about changing every inch of the place. Mr. Kumarasamy, the university's vice president for enrollment…

Over the past several years, Hong Kong has made a determined effort to raise its profile by positioning its universities to compete globally for students, scholars, and research projects. In the process, it is refashioning its higher-education system from the British three-year model into a four-year system aligned with those of the United States…

Indian universities had not historically done much to recruit foreign students, or to help the few that they had adjust to life in India. But in recent years, that has begun to change--if slowly. A handful of Indian institutions are making an effort to welcome international students to their campuses. And the government of Prime Minister Manmohan…

Colleges must make radical changes in their structure, values, hiring practices, and the way they treat students if they want to attract more minority students and professors. Faculty members are given little incentive to work with minority students. (MLW)

In an effort to revitalize Bennington College (Vermont), its president recently fired 26 of 79 faculty members, reduced and reorganized academic departments and divisions, replaced tenure with multi-year contracts, and recruited new faculty. Some claim violation of academic freedom. Enrollment has increased, particularly among first-time students,…

The rising supply of doctors, less-than-optimal health of Americans, increased health care costs, and fewer students deciding to become physicians suggest the need for a new concept of medicine and medical education, including a broader view of health and more interdisciplinary study. (MSE)

Reports issued by the State Higher Education Executive Officers and the Education Commission of the States say that progress toward full participation of minorities in higher education has become stalled and must improve, both to benefit minorities and because that group is an increasing proportion of the college-age population. (MSE)

The University of Wisconsin, in the third year of a high-profile drive to increase minority enrollments, is having difficulty reaching its goals despite realistic goals and appropriate efforts. Competition for a limited minority population among the state's private and public colleges and universities is intense, and racial tension persists. (MSE)

A plan to reinvigorate the University of Minnesota focuses on undergraduate education, encouraging recruitment of top high school graduates, improved retention, closer faculty-student relationships, and improved campus social climate. Critics find the plan vague, student leaders decry lack of student involvement in planning, minority groups call…

The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) has convened a working group to address problems in recruiting, gambling, academic standards, and other corrupt practices in college basketball programs. Such problems are neither new nor unique to basketball, and changing college sports has proven to be difficult. Recommendations are anticipated…

Project Kaleidoscope, based on a 2-year study of science and mathematics programs at 200 colleges, seeks to improve recruitment, preparation, and retention of teachers in those disciplines, reshape introductory courses, provide faculty fellowship and research opportunities, revamp teacher education, and forge relationships among public agencies,…

National Collegiate Athletic Association rules changes address recruiting practices, services provided to athletes, expenditures, coaching limitations, coach certification, playing season and practice limitations, scheduling, association membership, amateurism, academic standards, financial aid, and championship competition. (MSE)

The text of the report of the National Commission for Excellence in Teacher Education is presented. The commission was guided by two charges: to become informed about teacher education and to recommend to policymakers and college and university leaders ways to improve teacher education. (MLW)

Following a trend in a number of states, Indiana has begun a project to improve college preparation and encourage high school students to pursue higher education. The effort includes a toll-free hotline, a statewide database for monitoring student characteristics, and standardized testing of basic skills. (MSE)

Temple University (Pennsylvania), an urban institution, is seeking to raise academic standards and is aggressively recruiting suburban students, finding that local high schools are not of high quality. Some critics feel the institution is abandoning the black population and is recruiting white students who are more likely to be better prepared…