Clement A. Price, a member of the Obama transition team's committee on the arts, spent several days in December walking the halls of the National Endowment for the Humanities, interviewing program officers and generally taking the temperature of the place. It was an interesting moment to visit: not only was a new president preparing to take…

Sheldon Hackney will step down as chairman of the National Endowment for the Humanities for personal reasons, and resume teaching college-level history. During his tenure at the federal agency, he contended with significant budget reductions by a Republican Congress and was sometimes criticized for his leadership style. The agency is still…

In addition to discussing many scholarly issues at its first meeting, the new Historical Society examined its own reasons for existence, including an interest in reinvigorating intellectual debate on history; reintegrating into the profession historians who have been pushed to the sidelines; and dissatisfaction with two major existing history…

After a period of decline in interest in governance, there appears to be increased faculty interest in reclaiming the responsibility traditionally held by the faculty senate. However, some faculty feel participation in governance detracts from scholarly pursuits and peer perceptions, and that gratification must accompany involvement. (MSE)

Debate exists over the appropriate role of the regional accreditation agency in higher education. Some feel the agencies do colleges and universities a favor by holding them to specific standards, and others feel the agencies were not intended for a consumer protection function. Accreditation criteria, quantifiable and subjective, are also…

Some academic administrators have long felt that colleges are too much influenced by specialized accrediting agencies. Under pressure to control costs and improve general education, some are attempting to limit the agencies' authority. Proponents say accreditation is needed and conflict is inherent in the system. (MSE)

The Kellogg Foundation's assets have more than doubled in two years, making it the country's third-largest grantmaker. The rapid growth has increased both opportunities and strains within the organization but pleases colleges and universities, who carry out 85 percent of its grants. (MSE)

While the scholarly interest in philanthropy is growing, there remains concern about the difficulty of accomplishing serious study of the phenomenon because of the nature of grants and research funding. (MSE)

Colleges are less willing to cooperate with the American Association of University Professors in its investigations of institutional violations of faculty's rights, and some criticize the organization's dual role as professional association and union. (MSE)

National Collegiate Athletic Association president's commission proposals are summarized for institutional control of athletic budgets, annual athletic program audits, annual submission of Division I athlete information to the NCAA, athletic program self-study requirements, enforcement procedures revision, timely infraction punishment,…

Internal documents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation show extensive surveillance of some campus activist groups and analysis of their activities. (MSE)

Representatives of 270 colleges are establishing a new accrediting agency to end the American Assembly of Collegiate Schools of Business' 70 years as sole accreditor in the field. At issue are who should define the quality of business education and the role of research and faculty doctorates in accreditation. (MSE)

the National Advisory Committee on Accreditation and Institutional Eligibility is criticized by various groups for doing and saying too much or too little. Current controversial issues on its agenda include loan defaults, shoddy trade schools, and treatment of minority students and faculty. The committee's role in some areas is also unclear. (MSE)

Since its creation in 1992, the Public Health Service's Office of Research Integrity has not won a single case against a scientist accused of research misconduct. Cases are adjudicated by a panel of lawyers. Scientists and critics agree that the government's failure will have serious consequences for the research community. (MSE)

In a major victory for civil rights groups, a federal appeals court has revived the lawsuit that forced the Education Department to monitor the desegregation of public colleges in 18 southern and border states, claiming the groups bringing the suit still had the legal standing to pursue it. (MSE)