Budget cuts, jurisdictional arguments among colleges, disputes over telecommunications hardware, rapid changes in technology, and sometimes complex state regulatory climates are making state distance learning initiatives difficult. Legislators are concerned that resorting to private ownership of an education telecommunications network would drive…

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)

Johns Hopkins University (Maryland) is challenging the rights of a biotechnology company to infringe on the university's patents on an invention; the company is challenging the patents' validity. The case is seen as representative of issues concerning technology transfer in which universities, government funding, and private industry interact. The…

Students at the City University of New York are protesting proposed tuition increases and budget cuts and using newfound confidence and influence to seek a variety of institutional improvements, including day care and campus security. Meanwhile, the institution is facing financial and administrative crisis. (MSE)

For each of the 50 states, the outlook for higher education in the state legislature in 1992 is outlined. Information includes the date of the legislative session, budget request for higher education, prospects for the request, nonbudget issues likely to be considered, and issues specific to private colleges. (MSE)

Critics say federal rules for welfare programs have built-in biases against higher education, and financially pinched states also discourage postsecondary education by welfare recipients for political and economic reasons. Issue revolves around use of the Job Opportunities and Basic Skills (JOBS) Training Program. States differ in their approaches…