The prosperous 1980s will be followed by an economic slowdown challenging to higher education. Faced with slower public, private, and endowment revenue growth and increasing operating costs, institutions will have to make tough choices. Data on government contributions, private gifts, endowments, expenditures, and shifting allocations are offered…

According to members of Congress, college chief executive officers possess an enormous amount of prestige and clout they could utilize to get what they need from lawmakers--be it dollars, new programs, or legislative support. This year's concerns include access, college costs, and research funding. (MLW)

American higher education continues to expect college presidents to take on an extraordinarily broad array of responsibilities, although the complexity of each responsibility has grown considerably. Many institutions give up on their presidents too quickly, never gaining the benefits that accrue from a longer tenure; most presidents serve less…

The question of a balance in the supporting roles of students and families, governments, and institutions in college financing is discussed. In the context of that analysis, the question is then whether the current student aid system is the most cost-effective and fair way of meeting national needs. (MLW)

The 1985 Recent College Graduates Survey, conducted by the U.S. Department of Education's Center for Education Statistics, was studied to determine who is borrowing from student loan programs, and how the borrowing varies by race/ethnicity, major field of study, and amount of debt. (MLW)

A strategy developed at the University of Wyoming for achieving equity in salaries for faculty in nontraditional adult education programs is described. The model uses a formula derived from average full-time salary, total faculty service units, instructional component weighting, and credit hours of equivalent service to be reimbursed for…

An important element of academic planning and program administration is determining whether a course is to be offered for credit. Changes in the ground rules for the credit versus noncredit decision-making process within the California community college system are discussed. (MLW)

The heritage of the past 50 years is the greatest challenge facing higher education in central Europe. Issues to be addressed include the traditional separation of teaching and research, low enrollment and labor market needs, diversification, access, the role of the government, and the economic context and impact of higher education. (MSE)

The American Council on Education, its Commission on Governmental Relations, and the governmental relations staffs of other national education associations have prepared a legislative agenda. Items of concern to the higher education community are identified, areas of top priority are suggested, and specific action is recommended.…

A discussion of the state of higher education in South Africa looks at the economic context, the structure of the higher education system, including the role of apartheid and languages (English and Afrikaans), the government's role in governance and funding, and the actual and potential roles of professional associations in education. (MSE)

Federal policy for financing student aid is less equitable today than ever before. If college costs are high, the costs of an expanded uneducated lower class will be higher. College access and choice will become increasingly remote for low-income students unless increased resources can be provided. (MLW)

Inadequate financial support for higher education is not due to a poor economy or lack of tax dollars, but to the low priority given to higher education by state legislatures. The issue at state and institutional levels is not low or high tuition but finding a planning model that integrates tuition income, tax support, and student aid. (MSE)

The 21st century is within the planning horizon of today's campus decision-makers and government policies. There is currently a heavy demand to fund the reduction of deferred maintenance and make functional program improvements on campuses nationwide. Integrated capital asset management programs for all facilities are essential to success. (MSE)

It is argued that college presidents should concentrate their efforts in five specific areas: (1) interpreting and managing change; (2) leading academic transformation; (3) balancing constituencies and their opposing claims; (4) finding financial resources; and (5) defending and promoting higher education, by meeting growing and inconsistent…

One college administrator's experience in a professional development program with Polish university administrators is described. Aspects of Polish higher education (finance, professional development for administrator, the student-faculty relationship, relationship of the university with alumni and the community) were found to provide perspective…