Principals and other educators fear litigation over defamation. Defamation means an injury to character or reputation by false, malicious statements, whether by printed words (libel) or by spoken words (slander). To constitute defamation, the words must be actionable, defamatory, refer to the plaintiff, and be communicated to others. If the words…

The study identifies specific financial indicators for higher education, indicates the recommended source of data, and suggests a survey for the Higher Education Panel that could be used to supplement the data. The use of the indicators is explored and it is explained that the indicators allow the grouping of institutions for comparative analysis.…

All of the major academic quality rankings of American Ph.D.-granting geography departments during 1925-80 are examined, and trends in the universities and regions in which the best Ph.D.-granting geography departments have been located are analyzed. Seven major ratings of geography departments are considered. Reputational rankings were conducted…

Stanford University's unique combination of high academic standards and successful, broad-based intercollegiate athletics provides a model for other institutions, and it is working hard to continue to attract smart, talented athletes. (MSE)

Four books published about Harvard University that evoke clear images of what many people call the greatest institution of higher education in America are discussed. Two of the books congratulate, while two debunk. (MLW)

Previous college department rankings based on the evaluations of others in the field are examined for their weaknesses, and the requirements of an adequate institutional ranking system are discussed. (MSE)

Conflicts arising when a new university, the Roskilde University Centre, is exposed to many different expectations are described. The impact of confrontations between the university and politicians on university activities and actions taken by university members to counteract the unfavorable public image are discussed. (MSE)

Recounts problems facing community college arts programs. Considers college reputation and image essential to student recruitment. Focuses on Mercer County Community College's approach to arts programing, which stresses high-quality productions emphasizing community involvement, integrated services to campus constituencies, aggressive marketing,…

Three analyses were used to determine "core" journals in the field of higher education: frequency of publishing higher education focused articles, frequency of citation to key works in higher education, and journal rankings by higher education professionals. Little correspondence is found among the results of the three strategies. (Author/MSE)

A study on the objective correlates of undergraduate quality ratings, state or regional biases, and other methodological issues relating to reputational ratings of undergraduate quality is reported. The subjective judgments of departmental quality made by college and university faculty were studied. Reputational ratings appear to be redundant with…

Academic inbreeding--selecting former students of an institution to its faculty--was found to be prevalent in graduate schools of social work, but not related to an institution's ranking on measures of prestige, scholarly or professional productivity, and teaching quality. It was concluded that inbreeding is not predictive of institutional or…

The perception that a college has an excellent academic program is seen as a judgment about the whole college, not just about a few departments. To maintain this judgment, the administrator of a small college must exercise balance in allocation of resources to departments and academic support areas. (Author/MLW)

Argues that, although the high salaries of faculty "superstars" may disadvantage other faculty and staff, particularly in a period of downsizing, the more serious problem is the tradition of large discipline-based differences in faculty salaries which undermine the principles of merit-based compensation. Resentment of "superstar" salaries may have…

Studied peer acceptance, social status, and social reputation in children attending mixed-age programs. Found that younger children were less well-accepted and more likely to be nominated by peers as shy, while gender (but not age) affected aggressiveness. Also found that at the primary level, girls were more likely to be nominated as shy. (EV)

CASE's 1989 National Professor of the Year was J. Dennis Huston, a professor of English at Rice University, who directs a new Humanities Foundation Course for science and engineering students. The one-year core course grounds science and engineering freshmen in history, literature, and culture. (MLW)