Budget cuts at the University of California at Los Angeles are causing drastic reduction of some community services, particularly in health clinics. At the same time, a controversial public-policy and social-research school will be created from existing graduate programs. (MSE)

State spending on higher education has risen up to 30% in some states, with much of the new money paying for technology, upgrading community colleges, and providing funds to college shortchanged previously. Only Alaska and Hawaii showed net decreases. Data on 1997-98 dollar appropriations and percentage changes for each state institution and for…

Community-based research projects, a minute portion of the total amount government, industry, and foundations spend money on, are beginning to generate attention among policymakers because of their power to meet the needs of ordinary citizens, especially the disadvantaged. Currently, the incentives for researchers and institutions to pursue such…

A number of states are requiring public two-year colleges to raise academic standards so graduates can compete in four-year institutions, even linking student performance to funding. Some say the change will result in better-prepared graduates; others say struggling students will be discouraged and drop out. (MSE)

Educators and politicians are debating the role of remedial education in four-year colleges, questioning current policy of correcting high school education deficits in college. Some advocate remedial courses only in community colleges and tightening entrance requirements for four-year institutions. Proposals are under consideration in a number of…

The Kentucky governor's plan to remove the state's 14 community colleges from the control of the University of Kentucky and create a new system to administer technical and community colleges has created rancor in the university's community. Many business leaders and presidents of the seven other state universities have endorsed the governor's…

Virginia will pilot a program to send some community college graduates to several rural private colleges in an effort to improve educational access and help meet the anticipated growth in enrollments in the next decade. Some feel the state should expand existing public institutions instead. (MSE)

Increasingly, states are moving to assure that every entrant to a two-year community college has a place at a four-year institution. The joint-admission agreements, most commonly between two public institutions, specify the course requirements, grade point average, and other prerequisites for transfer. (MSE)

California state commission recommendations cover a wide range of issues, including freshmen and sophomore enrollment at universities, minority student and faculty recruitment, and the tenure review process. The plans would update the 1960 Master Plan for Higher Education. (LB)

Over a dozen states are trying to force their public colleges to be more accommodating to transfer students, urging use of common course numbers and titles and in some cases mandating that the institutions accept credits earned elsewhere. The effort is designed to make community colleges less expensive and more attractive to students and taxpayers…

Increasingly, students and states are seeing community colleges as a cheaper, more accessible route to bachelor's degrees, by having four-year students spend two years in a community college or converting community colleges to four-year programs. Debate focuses on availability of appropriate resources, duplication of effort, and dilution of degree…

Throughout the South, and to a lesser extent throughout the country, state budgets for higher education are the healthiest since 1990. In 1998 to 1999, state budgets for higher education are 6.7% more than the previous year. Community colleges, distance learning, and student aid will enjoy large gains. Three states (Alaska, Hawaii, South Carolina)…

Data from a national survey of state spending on higher education in 1998 to 1999, organized by state, include dollar appropriations per state institution and for specific program types (community colleges, student aid, vocational/technical education, private colleges, and state commissions, when appropriate), and percentage changes since the…

"Chronicle of Higher Education" presents an abundant source of news and information for college and university faculty members and administrators. This March 11, 2005 issue of "Chronicle of Higher Education" includes the following articles: (1) "Don't Get Goggle-Eyed Over Google's Plan to Digitize" (Herring, Mark Y.);…

Predicted enrollment growth at four-year colleges in some states has not occurred. Trends complicating projection include increase in high school students taking college courses and progressing quickly; community college demand among older students; federal aid and tax changes; growth of distance learning; state and federal welfare program…