Soon after Jamie P. Merisotis took over the Lumina Foundation for Education last year, he began talking about a "big goal." America must increase the proportion of its population with degrees or credentials to 60% by 2025, in order to remain globally competitive and meet the nation's growing demand for college-educated workers, he said.…

Discusses ideas from a new book, "Millennials Rising: The Next Great Generation," (by Neil Howe and William Strauss) suggesting that youth culture is on the cusp of a radical shift with the generation beginning with this year's college freshmen who are typically team oriented, optimistic, and poised for greatness on a global scale. Includes a…

Demographic changes, shifts in intellectual fashion, and divisions between clinical and research-oriented psychologists will challenge the discipline of psychology in the coming years. Increasingly, psychology is becoming a feminine field, with concentration in certain subfields. The postmodern movement is influencing perspectives, and new testing…

Florida is working to improve its university system's reputation at the same time that it faces increased demand for limited spaces, stiff civic competition for public funding, international political issues, continuing regional disagreement, and conflict between legislators and institutions. (MSE)

Many colleges and universities are beginning to court female graduates as aggressively as they have male graduates, with specially targeted programs and closer attention paid to women's views. Demographic changes have resulted in women having more financial power and new attitudes about spending, and fund-raising expectations are following the…

Since Montana's establishment of a state university system in 1893, residents have been divided over how many institutions are needed and what programs should be offered, but the situation is worsened by the state's current poor economic climate and the too-large system. (MSE)

Statistics based on a survey of 216,362 freshmen entering 403 2-year and 4-year institutions in the fall of 1989 are presented. Covered are demographic, attitudinal, and financial areas. (MLW)

Reports evidence that the federal government's three campus-based student aid programs are no longer serving needy students well, but rather benefit a select group of institutions. Urges changing the 20-year-old financial aid formula to better reflect changing college demographics. Contrasts aid received by students attending the University of…

Finds that while more college-bound students are utilizing the early decision process, many others are delaying their decision until the last possible moment. Reasons cited include rising costs, need for more financial aid, and increasing selectivity. Notes that increased number of students graduating from high school and booming economy have made…

Explores how the world's oldest English-speaking university is struggling with issues of finance, governance, mission, and demographics. (EV)

A table showing data from the Survey of Earned Doctorates cites the following: sex, citizenship, marital status, percent with bachelor's degree in same field as doctorate, planned postdoctoral study, planned postdoctoral employment, primary postdoctoral work, and region of employment after doctorate. (MLW)

The high degree of ethnic diversity at the University of California at Berkeley where minority students, taken together, now form the majority, has been characterized by the tendency of students to segregate themselves into racial and ethnic enclaves. Such self-segregation is decried by some students and faculty and lauded by others. (DB)

Reports on a decline in fraternity membership, which is ascribed to changing demographics, bad publicity about alcohol abuse and hazing incidents, and changing student values. Graphs illustrate fraternity membership trends at six universities, including 10-year comparisons in membership, academic performance, and pledges; and average number of men…

Aging baby boomers approaching retirement, more educated than previous generations, may see proximity to a college or university as a factor in relocation. Institutions can offer residential and recreational facilities for special programs or for adults seeking advanced degrees. Colleges and universities can adapt to this new trend and…

Two years ago, a study led by Peter H. Rossi found that 7,000 people were without homes in Chicago at some time in the course of a year. An expanded version of that study recommends changes in state and national policies affecting the homeless. (MLW)