Discusses why, as Congress prepared to reauthorize the Higher Education Act, colleges and universities should resist federal efforts at one-size-fits-all accountability. (EV)

Discusses increasing federal regulation governing colleges and universities and notes that trustees and other campus leaders must pay attention to the increasing costs of compliance. Offers examples of regulatory difficulties experienced by Stanford University (California), Mount St. Clare College (Iowa), and the University of Phoenix (Arizona).…

In response to real and perceived problems in higher education, the federal government has increased regulation on campus. Even greater changes, some that will affect the teaching function of colleges and universities, notably the state review and accreditation provisions of the Higher Education Amendments of 1992, are already in the works. (MSE)

Factors contributing to the growing federal regulation of United States colleges and universities are explained, and regulation's impact in the areas of student aid, race relations, scientific research, environmental protection, and age discrimination are discussed. It is argued that a balance between institutional autonomy and accountability must…

College trustees should be aware of the latest round of federal regulations because they threaten to impose unprecedented government control on colleges and universities. Some regulations signal an expansion of the federal role into a broader effort to improve and monitor quality in higher education. (Author/MSE)

Having undergone major improvement in recent years, state governments were able to respond decisively when the public showed alarm over the condition of education. Since educational reform depends on leadership by teachers, enhancement of the teaching profession in terms of status, participant quality, and training must be encouraged. (PGD)

Federal aid is seen as not only essential to many college students but also as a mainstay of U.S. economic growth and social progress. The reauthorization of the Higher Education Act represents the best chance for reform, and Congress needs to do more than ratify existing programs. (MLW)

Steps taken by various states and individual institutions to determine a minimum level of accomplishment among students and to define the basic components of a college education are outlined. These include curriculum evaluations, standards review, and testing. (JMF)