Public policy programs at universities are continuing to define and defend their institutional niche, influenced by new quantitative approaches of cost-benefit analysis and more analytic decision making. At least 50 institutions offer master's programs in public policy leading to jobs in government and industry. (DB)

ACCESS: Networking in the Public Interest provides people and job placement offices nationwide with job listings and pertinent information on public-interest organizations. Students at subscribing institutions will be able to punch their employment interest into the computer and get back a listing of appropriate job openings. (MLW)

Decline in interest and employment in public-interest law may be due to cuts in legal services funding, heightened recruiting by private firms, mounting law student debt burdens, growing salary disparities in public-interest and corporate law, inadequate curricular attention to public-interest issues, and private law firm prestige. (MSE)