College campuses are hothouses of data, including course schedules, degree requirements, and grades. But much of the information remains spread out across software systems or locked on university servers. Start-up companies want to pry the information loose from campus servers in order to offer personalized services that could transform the…

If an honorary degree lacks values to begin with, does withdrawing it deliver a rebuke to the recipient? Is whatever honor that comes with the distinction embedded in the fancy paper, or is it wholly in the eye of the degree holder? Are honorary degrees really such silly things that individuals should mock their bestowal or withdrawal? The case of…

The University of Iowa has reversed course on a plan to make some students' theses freely available online, following protests from students in the university's writing programs. The students said the plan could have threatened the potential commercial value of their novels, plays, and other creative works. The controversy began in late winter,…

Administrators at West Virginia University violated procedures and displayed poor judgment in their "seriously flawed" response to an inquiry about a high-profile academic transcript, according to a report issued last week by an independent panel. The harshly worded report found that when the "Pittsburgh Post-Gazette" raised…

Three years ago, as part of a broad effort to raise academic standards in college sports, the NCAA adopted a controversial rule designed to make life difficult for athletes idling in the classroom. The measure--known as the 40-60-80 rule, or the "progress toward degree" requirement--mandates that, to remain eligible to compete, athletes must…

After nearly three years of planning, Ohio's higher-education officials are finalizing an ambitious program to grant college credit for some technical courses offered at the state's adult-education centers. The program, called the Career-Technical Credit Transfer, is the latest in a string of state efforts to more closely link work-force training…

Many adults are attending weekend colleges in search of undergraduate degrees. The intense two- or three-day programs provide a workable alternative for adults who are unable or unwilling to attend classes during the day or evening. (MLW)

The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants has ruled that by the year 2000, new members must have 150 credits in higher education (a year of study beyond the bachelor's degree) due to the increased complexity of accounting. The transition to the new requirements is predicted to be disruptive. (MSE)

In response to the increasing amount of time it takes many students to complete a bachelor's degree, Arizona's Board of Regents has lowered the number of credits required to graduate from the three state universities. Critics are concerned about educational quality and the role of the Arizona Board of Regents in academic matters. (MSE)

In an effort to combat juvenile speech patterns of "mallspeak" and engage students in intelligent conversation, classes in oral communication are appearing among the general education requirements at colleges, and speaking-intensive classes are emerging in all disciplines. Communications faculty feel the skills should be taught within their…

The crisis in American education as revealed in the decay in the college course of study and in the role of college faculties in creating and nurturing that decay is discussed. The text of the report of the AAC Project on Redefining the Meaning and Purpose of Baccalaureate Degrees is presented. (MLW)

A Wellesley College (Massachusetts) requirement that students take at least one course on a non-European culture is being reevaluated by faculty. Some feel the requirement is vague, and both conservatives and liberals express concern over emphasis on multiculturalism. (MSE)

No college or university last year joined the 14 institutions that already require students to buy computers. The reasons include: greater than expected costs of supporting required computers, lack of educational software, and adequency of computer laboratories are sufficient for the needs of most students. (MLW)

Colleges that train schoolteachers are encouraged to stiffen their admissions and graduation requirements and give prospective teachers a bigger dose of the liberal arts. The report of the National Commission for Excellence in Teacher Education is discussed. (MLW)

Frustrations common among students at large institutions include unavailability of faculty, crowding, inadequate advising, and problems getting into required courses. Students are often too intimidated to ask for help, but at some institutions they are pressing for changes. (MSE)