In a period of educational change, land-grant universities are re-examining their role in agricultural education and extension education, their relationship with the state, and their future in the higher education system. (MSE)

Colleges and universities will be held directly responsible for loan repayments by their former students. Most postsecondary institutions with default rates of more than 20% are for-profit trade schools, community colleges, or historically Black colleges. (MLW)

A three-judge panel of the U. S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia ruled unanimously that civil rights groups could not sue the federal government to force it to take steps against states or colleges that may be breaking the law. (MLW)

Excerpts from George Bush's fiscal 1990 federal budget documents include a summary of principles underlying his education policy and initiatives and statements on alternative certification for teachers and principals and on historically Black colleges and universities. (MSE)

Findings from the "American Freshman: National Norms for 1988," conducted by the Higher Education Research Institute at the University of California at Los Angeles, are tabulated. (MLW)

Shaw University (North Carolina), a black institution near closing in 1986, has reorganized its finances and remade its image under a new president. It has since renovated buildings, lowered its debt, operated on a balanced budget for five years, built a substantial endowment, doubled its enrollment, and provided regular faculty raises. (MSE)

A federal appeals court ordered new trials on whether curriculum at Alabama's predominantly white colleges discriminates against blacks by lacking content on black thought and history, and whether much of the state land-grant program should be shifted from Auburn University to Alabama A&M, a historically black institution. (MSE)

Although Georgia officials are moving to close college-admissions loopholes they say allow public colleges to admit many unqualified undergraduates, some black leaders fear enrollments at the state's three public, historically black colleges will suffer. The plan would funnel underprepared students into remedial classes at two-year colleges. (MSE)

A federal district judge ruled that state officials failed to demonstrate the need to close Mississippi Valley State University and merge Mississippi University for Women with Mississippi State University to meet desegregation requirements. He ordered Mississippi to provide additional funds to two other black colleges, and approved a state plan…

A federal judge has ordered Alabama's two public, historically black universities to enroll more whites as part of a statewide effort to reduce racial segregation in public colleges. Critics are offended by the judge's comments that the colleges' black heritage discourages white enrollment. The ruling also contained some more welcome results,…

Georgia has met few of the numerical goals in the desegregation plan approved by the U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights. The goals are seen as unrealistic and some of the plans to attract White students to the state's historically Black colleges have been faulty. (MLW)

Department of Education issuance of reports on the status of 10 states' court-ordered college desegregation without any evaluation of the states' efforts has disappointed civil-rights activists. The unexpected release of the reports was due in part to the threat of Congressional subpoena of the information. (MSE)

The National Collegiate Athletic Association's new regulation preventing freshman athletes with low standardized test scores from participating in varsity sports, and the response of Black colleges, including a legal challenge, are discussed. (MSE)

The remarkable growth of Clark Atlanta University (Georgia), a historically black institution, is attributed to aggressive pursuit of federal grants for science and engineering. After the 1988 merger of Clark College and Atlanta University, the new administration made a commitment to high-level science education through a broad research and…

The Education Department's expected announcement of its assessment of court-ordered desegregation plans in 10 states is reported. Most state leaders characterize their efforts as successful. Federal involvement, Black colleges, Education Department's Office for Civil Rights role, etc., are discussed. (MLW)