The concept underlying affirmative action emerged in 1941, but resistance to it persists. Equity management is a form of leadership committed to diversity as a strength, not a weakness. Federal policy has led in this approach, and historically black colleges provide models. Higher education must now forge effective policies and practices. (MSE)

The Sloan Commission on Government and Higher Education Report, which tries to reconcile the demand for government aid with the maintenance of institutional independence, is discussed. The response to the commission's report is described. The commission's influence is seen to be undercut by its composition--mostly members of private institutions.…

The Reagan revolution is making profound changes in the basic assumptions that have undergirded American educational and social policy. The time has come to form a new national consensus whose unifying idea is educational quality. The declining quality of teachers poses the gravest threat to the quality of education. (MLW)

Issues of equal educational opportunity are seen to be transformed into issues of effectiveness, efficiency, or cultural pluralism. It is suggested that issues of equal educational opportunity are likely to be resolved only by reducing the capacity of the educational system itself to determine the future and the value of individuals. (MLW)

A discussion of public policy and access to higher education in the United States surveys the federal role in higher education since the 1960s through legislation and litigation, focusing on access for poor and/or minority students. Suggestions are made for action by the Clinton administration to address the current challenge. (MSE)