As state tax revenues plummet, some lawmakers and higher-education leaders are once again looking at loosening the bonds between state governments and public colleges to save money and give colleges the freedom to bolster their bottom lines in new ways. Over the past two decades, college officials have often lamented the growing need to secure…

People, especially people in Washington, are worried about the state of American higher education. Last September a report by the Spellings Commission on the Future of Higher Education expressed grave concern about the quality and purpose of colleges and universities. The report cited statistics that implied that higher-education institutions are…

As tuitions continue to rise, Congress is looking for ways to mitigate the costs of college attendance for students and their families. Legislators are giving particular scrutiny to how colleges spend money from their endowments, which have grown significantly over the past decade. Some lawmakers have proposed that institutions with endowments of…

On December 4, the Supreme Court will hear arguments in two significant affirmative-action cases. Each case--one from Seattle and the other from Louisville--involves the constitutional validity of school-district plans that consider race in assigning students to public schools. Determined parents from both cities will ask the court to declare the…

College administrators, trustees, politicians, and coordinating boards in several states continue to argue over control of higher education institutions. Some state coordinating boards are criticized for governing more than coordinating, creating an unnecessary layer of bureaucracy between colleges and the state; others are seen as not adequately…

Describes how Massachusetts' governor and the politically powerful head of the state university are grappling over a plan to revamp the system, reduce its budget, and do away with the president's job. (EV)

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)

Inappropriate state intrusion into higher education is discussed in Frank Newman's "Choosing Quality: Reducing Conflict between the State and the University." Based on discussions with governors, state legislators, and officials at large public universities, the book examines recent trends in the state role in higher education. (MLW)

A transformation in higher education in New Jersey can be attributed to several factors, including strong leadership by Governor Kean, the state's healthy economy, the high degree of collaboration between state leaders and higher education officials, and a greater willingness of institutions to show what they are or aren't accomplishing. (MLW)

A proposed plan to form a public corporation of Oregon's public colleges and universities, designed to increase institutional autonomy and loosen state regulatory ties by establishment of an autonomous governing board, has been defeated, due to characterizations of the plan as a threat to state government and the legislature's power to guard…

Saint Mary's College (Maryland) is a small state liberal arts institution that has extensive control over its budget, property and assets, and decisions about borrowing money. These conditions, in effect since 1992, affords it substantial freedom from regulation, efficient spending, and greater opportunity to fulfill its mission as an honors…

Institutional, foundation, and professional association administrators and state and federal policymakers outline potential improvements in public higher education and research policy. They include adjustments in research emphases, improved educational opportunity, upgraded academic standards, more consistent research and general support, and more…