Higher education has increasingly become critical to the nation's cultural, social, and economic well-being, with 90 percent of the fastest-growing jobs in the knowledge economy requiring some postsecondary education. While a college graduate can expect to earn, on average, approximately $1 million more over the course of his or her working life…

The attitudes of 100 Alabama legislators toward higher education and about major issues facing higher education in the State were investigated. Surveys were returned by 79 house members (75 percent) and 21 senate members (60 percent). Attention was focused on legislators' views of the mission of higher education, how higher education should be…

The structure of U.S. congressional support for college student financial aid during the 96th and 97th Congresses was assessed. Senators' roll call votes on student aid legislation were analyzed, using factor and discriminant analysis. Using a content-free classification scheme, attention was directed to whether voting patterns were…

The power of the student vote in 91 Congressional districts where college enrollment exceeds the incumbent's margin of victory in the 1976 elections is presented. The article on student voters included in this report discusses voter registration rates among students, turnout of registered student voters, voting patterns of students, student voting…

Many scientists and policymakers are urging the federal government to set priorities for the scientific projects the government should support, but few can agree on how those priorities should be determined or on how much say researchers should have in the process. (MLW)

Federal appropriations for fiscal 1991 for projects involving specific colleges and universities has set an all-time record for such spending. Actual totals are probably even higher. Spending is for research facilities and varied projects. The increases may reflect lawmakers' impatience for an administration policy on promoting technology. (MSE)

State legislators who consistently challenge higher education on one or more issues are seen as both allies, for bringing issues to the forefront, and as foes, for their sometimes strident criticism. Many such legislative critics focus on accountability vs. autonomy. (MSE)

In a number of states, legislatures are successfully opposing governors on budget cuts that would adversely affect colleges and universities, even in states where relations between academics and politicians have been strained recently. (MSE)

The views of state legislators and agencies that govern higher education must be considered along with institutional perspectives on approaches to assessment of student learning outcomes. This chapter provides a review of performance indicators from twenty-nine recent state reports and discusses their implications for the assessment of student…

A study aimed to examine how reading assessment information is understood and used by two powerful groups: federal legislators and members of the news media. Attempts were made to contact federal legislators on educational subcommittees to discuss how they used reading assessment information to make legislative policy decisions and to vote on…

To highlight forces that impede constructive relationships between legislators and agency representatives, advice is offered on presenting testimony in legislative sessions or providing information to a legislator, based on the viewpoint of a state legislator. It is advisable to avoid approaching legislators with the attitude that they are the…

This speech, presented at the NASPA convention, Dallas, 1976, maintains that the "quiet" on college campuses is isolating Congressmen from students at a time when input is essential. (Author)

John Brademas' career in national politics and its effect on his approach to his work as president of New York University are discussed. (MSE)

A description of what it is like to move back and forth between the academic and the political worlds is presented. Ten "professor/legislators" and one ex-professor/governor are interviewed. Their responses indicate that the campus and the legislature are not inimical environments. (MLW)

A look at present, past and future relationships between the government and higher education. (Editor)