Availability of money damages for violations of Title IX of the 1972 Higher Education Amendments, as determined by a 1992 Supreme Court decision, will increase the number of college campus sexual harassment cases that are decided in the courts. Thoughtful, well-drafted institutional policies and staff training are currently the best resource.…

The government is now cooperating with higher education in an effort to reduce unnecessary intrusion and red tape. Aims include: (1) having a single federal agency collect all the data from the campus; (2) reduce the total number of forms; and (3) eliminate the collection of data that is not really used. (Author/LBH)

The 1991 Civil Rights Act fills many gaps in existing employment laws, but its implications for higher education go beyond employment to admissions and students affairs. Trustees should direct administrators to review personnel policies and practices and liability insurance coverage in light of the new law. (Author/MSE)

An expert on Capitol Hill describes the maze of federal agencies and Congressional subcommittees concerned with higher education. A chart on House-Senate committees is provided. (Editor/LBH)

The best lobbyists for higher education are trustees, whose political power is that they can describe college concerns. Legislators want to know policy costs, who and how it will serve, what evidence there is of success, and who opponents will be and why. (MSE)

In the coming reauthorization of the Higher Education Act, Congress will carefully examine the purpose, accessibility, process, and administration of student aid program. The deliberations promise to be extensive. Eight specific student aid policy issues to be addressed are identified. (Author/MSE)

A plan is outlined that would encourage charitable contributions made jointly by corporations and their shareholders. Shareholders would agree to forgo one quarterly dividend and the corporation would match the contribution to any charity. Legal and tax implications and problems are discussed, as are advantages of the plan. (MSE)

Too much legislation and government regulation, combined with the tendency of some trustees to put other goals ahead of their institution's best interests, threaten to significantly erode the power of governing boards of institutions of higher education. (Author/JMD)

Most opinion favors laws designating the board of trustees as employer, a clear specification of what is and is not bargainable, exclusion of department heads and other supervisors from the union, elections in which union/no-union is settled separately from choice of union, and only limited use of arbitration. (Editor)

Washington-based national organizations are seen as effective in dealing with the government, especially on technical questions. But when major policy issues are to be decided, it is suggested that a college president or board member is more effective. Knowing the committee structure is seen as necessary for influencing legislation. (Author/MLW)

The needs of legislatures for a source of reliable, independent information on higher education costs are examined along with the role of statewide planning or coordinating agencies in providing that information. (JT)

A slowdown and even rollback of the government intrusion can be brought about if the higher education community adopts a basic commitment to the development of credible self-regulating mechanisms. One area that needs attention is accreditation. (Editor/LBH)

The Education Amendments of 1972 will be credited with triggering the deregulation of American higher education. The law broke higher education's monopoly on granting degrees because it allowed an array of institutions and organizations to press for degree-granting status from state licensure boards (MLW)

California's efforts in recent years to strengthen education at all levels by statewide articulation and local and classroom reforms are outlined. Emphasis is on the need to strengthen teacher education by coordinating it more closely with other areas of higher education. (MSE)

Politics is seen as likely to play an important role in higher education during the 1980s. The best way to ensure continued public support and funding from the state is by demonstrating academic quality. Trustees must play a central role in political influence/pressure brought to bear on legislators. (MLW)