In this article, the author talks about the plight of conservatives within academia. He discusses the results of a study of politics in higher education. Using survey data from the Higher Education Research Institute at the University of California, Los Angeles, the author and his wife set about testing possible explanations for the ideological…

This article presents the annual report on the economic status of the profession. This year's report covers three main issues--all perennial problems, but with new analysis based on the latest data--in addition to summarizing the current results from the annual American Association of University Professors (AAUP) survey of full-time faculty…

This article presents the annual report on the economic status of the profession. Although the results of this year's survey of full-time faculty compensation are marginally better than they have been the last two years, 2011-12 represents the continuation of a historic low period for faculty salaries. The overall average salary for full-time…

The environment for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) students, staff, and faculty on college campuses has certainly improved over the last generation, but recent dramatic episodes confirm the continuing need for vigilance and reform. Students remain the constituency most vulnerable to the effects of entrenched bigotry: the harassment…

Even before the current global economic crisis, discontent with the governance of higher education institutions was widespread among faculty in the United States and throughout the world. Drawing from the 2007 Changing Academic Profession (CAP) survey of faculty in seventeen countries, the authors examine faculty perceptions of the current state…

Since the publication of "A Nation at Risk: The Imperative for Educational Reform" by the U.S. Department of Education in 1983, American higher education has faced the need to develop its own effective means of learning assessment to forestall the prospect of government-imposed standardized procedures. The latter potential may have moved closed…

This article decries the heavy use of student evaluations in decisions about faculty retention, tenure, and promotion. It suggests these numerical evaluations are actually consumer satisfaction surveys, have not been validated, encourage dumbed-down education, and are not useful to teachers seeking to improve instruction. (DB)

Since its inception, the AAUP has been concerned with improving the economic status of the professoriate. A concerted effort has been made to place an effective tool in the hands of individual faculty members by means of a comprehensive faculty salary survey. Excerpt from a report on TIAA-CREF is included. (Author/MLW)

Metaphors, as linguistic cultural artifacts of organization culture, can be used as catalysts to encourage reflection and discussion on campus culture with key campus leaders, both faculty and administrators. An analysis of interviews with administrators, faculty, and departmental secretaries is discussed. (MLW)

Argues that if higher education is to get rid of affirmative action, it should first discontinue special admission of less qualified candidates who are admitted because they are athletes, alumni children, or the children of friends of administrators. Reports on a survey of 52 black college students concerning effects of affirmative action. (MSE)

A survey of 63 college provosts and academic vice presidents concerning evaluation of tenured faculty found that, although frequency and form of evaluation vary widely, the large majority of institutions do perform regular reviews of tenured faculty. Most respondents also felt that the tenure system works relatively well. (MSE)

A survey of about 20,000 college and university faculty and institutions in countries around the world investigated mobility patterns, preferences for research and/or teaching, international scholarly activities, attitudes about teaching, activities related to their roles as teachers, and expectations of students. Attitudes of United States…