Scholarly groups have long served as hubs of academic life and the embodiments of their disciplines, but they face uncertain and divergent futures. Some disciplinary associations are struggling to remain relevant and financially viable as demographic and technological changes threaten their traditional sources of revenue. The core of their…

People's ambivalence about the role that group membership plays in the public sphere is unfolding before everyone's eyes in the 2008 presidential campaign. While a "New York Times"/CBS News poll said that 69 percent of Americans believe that the U.S. is ready for a black president, a lot of Americans still believe that society still treats blacks…

When the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) held its annual meeting in Washington, in mid-June, some members called the gathering the most crucial in the group's 93-year history. On the last day of the meeting, members overwhelmingly approved a restructuring plan that could resolve longstanding problems, which include declining…

The frosty relationship between the United States and Iran has created a chill in many areas of scholarly endeavor. One resulting battle, over whether Iranian scholars can belong to the American Chemical Society, has been largely resolved. But a new imbroglio looms with the arrest of a prominent U.S.-Iranian scholar who was visiting Tehran. The…

As it enters its tenth decade, the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) struggles with its image. As the chief higher-education organization representing professors nationwide, the AAUP is best known for its widely cited statements on academic freedom and tenure. But in the last generation, even as the number of professors in the…

The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, a new nonprofit organization hoping to oversee key management functions of the Internet, earned the blessing of academic network groups but was scorned by critics during its first public meeting. The U.S. government is eager to turn Internet operations over to an international organization,…

Fraternities are criticized for deteriorating student behavior, but college administrations are also under fire for not controlling or taking responsibility for the organizations. Conflict over the organizations' value continues. (MSE)

International Churches of Christ, not affiliated with the mainline Church of Christ, actively recruits college students and proselytizes to a degree that some consider harassment and intimidation. Some major institutions have banned the groups from campuses. Some religious groups hesitate to call the International Churches of Christ a cult,…

The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Board of Directors has decided not to re-examine a rule limiting the committees on which the Division I-A football conferences are entitled to hold a majority. Critics of the rule saw inequities in committee membership that would cause major teams to be governed by decisions of members…

The United States House of Representatives' committees that make policy of importance to higher education are described, subcommittee leaders are profiled, and members are listed by political party. Telephone numbers are also provided. (MSE)

Ninety of the 126 research institutions invited to become charter members of the Holmes Group, a coalition for reform of teacher education and the teaching profession, have accepted the invitation, 25 have rejected membership, and 11 were unable to reach a decision and have been granted an extension. The invited institutions and their status are…

The League for Innovation in the Community College, a small group of community college presidents that helps to promote innovative and promising programs in two-year colleges by seeking funds and sharing resources, is criticized for being exclusive. (MSE)

Confusion over American Historical Association policy on the composition of conference sessions, as illustrated in a recent incident over a panel's membership, reflects common concern in scholarly circles over women scholars' participation and representation in discussion. At issue are quotas vs. affirmative action principles. (MSE)

Hamilton College has developed an imaginative program for young alumni that organizes activities geared to young adults' tastes and interests. Since its establishment, the college has had large increases in giving by this group. Nationwide, other colleges are raising substantial funds by targeting young graduates. (MSE)

Proposals to make major changes in the membership structure of the National Collegiate Athletic Association have been divisive. Advocates for women's sports, particularly frustrated by scholarship and coaching staff cuts, want to make federal antidiscrimination compliance a top issue. Delegates used a new electronic voting system. (MSE)