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)

The Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University has created a profitable program for commercializing student and faculty research, investing with three venture-capital companies that agreed to pay extra attention to the university's technological innovations and developing an office park to promote local economic development and generate…

Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New York face giant deficits in their state budgets. The financial impact of the 1986 federal tax reform law was underestimated by colleges and income estimates were overly optimistic for 1988 and 1989. Unpopular, new taxes are seen as the way to solve the budget crunch. (MLW)

A computer network designed by Tennessee State University, a historically black institution, links 29 schools, colleges, and community institutions and is financed with corporate, state, and federal funds. Focus is on providing access to technology in inner-city neighborhoods and institutions, especially within schools. Expansion of the system is…