Tenure itself is not the central issue in the debate over faculty tenure; honest faculty evaluation, adequate faculty development, and termination when appropriate are the real issues as are fears that abandonment of the tenure principle would amount to abandonment of the principles of academic freedom and shared governance. (MSE)

A survey of college faculty revealed that the Tax Reform Act of 1986, designed to make taxes simpler and more equitable, has increased the taxes of over half the respondents and decreased the tax liability of only 9%. Results also suggest that faculty bear a significant portion of the expenses associated with their profession. (MSE)

A variety of ways in which retired college faculty benefit from social services and commercial and professional perquisites, in addition to retirement income, are discussed. It is proposed that these faculty are benefiting at the expense of their younger colleagues and should in turn participate in volunteer public service. (MSE)

The decline of aid-blind college admissions, therefore of a "level playing field," complicates both admissions and financial aid processes. Institutions will have to revise recruitment procedures to bring in the best students. Financial aid will be one element in those procedures, depending on the relative wealth of the institution. (MSE)

Summarizes the National Commission on the Cost of Higher Education's report, "Straight Talk About College Costs and Prices," concerning the rate of increase in tuition and costs, college affordability, financial aid trends, state support of public institutions, contributors to costs, faculty costs, and recommendations for institutional action.…

A strong economic recovery offers higher education only some relief. Educators must respond in new ways to economic problems. Higher education offers the best chance for finding regional and national solutions, but, ironically, it must reshape itself to do so. (MSE)

Disciplinary and rank salary differences in higher education are immense and growing, and neither a marketplace nor a uniform approach explains or guides the setting of academic salaries. Salary differences must be prevented from generating feelings of second-class citizenship to maintain a common purpose among faculty. (MSE)

A discussion of trends in college student expenses looks realistically at what comprises student costs, how they relate to inflation levels, the pressures that drive tuition increases, and what the trend is likely to be in the next few years. (MSE)

It is the peculiar genius of the United States that everyone bears some responsibility for higher education: parents, students, state and federal governments, alumni, business, and philanthropists. In deciding each partner's share of the cost, it must be remembered that what one partner saves must be paid by someone else. (Author/MSE)

The American Association of University Professors' annual survey of college and university faculty salaries, by academic rank, institution type and size, gender, and geographic region and in relation to the consumer price index, is reported. Extensive data tables track changes and percentile distributions; one table presents average salaries for…

Tables and narrative analysis are presented for salary trends for all ranks of college faculty in 2,532 public and private institutions. Slight real increases in salary are found, with public institutions behind private colleges. In the past decade, faculty salaries have fallen behind those in the private sector. (MSE)

Although a casual analysis might suggest that a faculty member cannot afford a two-term sabbatical leave, factors affecting income loss from sabbaticals have changed. These include an increase in the number of two-income households, general increases in salary levels, and substantial revisions in federal tax law. Income loss from sabbaticals,…

Analysis of resource allocation in Michigan's higher education institutions indicates that spending is not driven by fixed costs, as often assumed. Most functions connected to the fundamental missions of the universities have been given lower priority than ancillary functions. Faculty compensation has lost ground overall, rather than leading…

Changes in college faculty employment patterns since the 1970s are examined, focusing on the current lack of available positions, increased use of part-time faculty, dual appointments, racial/ethnic and gender distribution among college teachers, and growth in class size. (MSE)

Chinese university students seem to feel their best hope for bringing about change lies in conforming outwardly to the policies of the government while seeking a chance to study in a Western country. Students are increasingly studying Western languages and monitoring Chinese and United States policies concerning international educational exchange.…