The European Students' Union (ESU) believes that open access to all levels of education is the cornerstone of a socially, culturally and democratically inclusive society and a pre-requisite for individual and societal development and well-being. ESU sees higher education as a human right, guaranteed in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and…

An article in the October 11 "New York Times" attributed the almost universal failure to anticipate the current economic crisis to "insanity"--more precisely, to a psychological inability to give proper weight to past events, so that if there is prosperity today people assume that it will last forever, even though they know that in the past booms…

Real-estate markets are almost as volatile as stock markets. Prices of agricultural land, of commercial real estate, and of homes and condominiums have gone through a series of huge bubbles, as if people never learned from the previous ones. Such events--in particular the recent housing bubble--are driven by what John Maynard Keynes called animal…

This fourth article in a series of theoretical essays intended to supplement the introductory financial accounting course is dedicated to the topic of property, plant, and equipment (PP&E), including both the accounting treatment and its related conceptual connections. The paper also addresses the measurement dilemmas, scandalous accounting…

It is time for the courts to rigorously scrutinize allegations of public use in order to protect the property rights of private individuals. Available from West Virginia Law Review, W.V.U. Law Center, Morgantown, WV 26506. (Author)

The Tax Reform Act of 1984 has sharply limited the tax advantages for private investors to enter into real estate sales/leaseback agreements with exempt organizations. The impact the Tax Reform Act of 1984 has on sales/leaseback agreements involving tax-exempt organizations is examined. (Author/MLW)

College fund-raisers should consider prospective donors of natural resource property, especially property that owners may not be developing immediately. Tax advantages to the donor can be considerable, and the college can either resell the property or keep it. Consultation with a petroleum law tax specialist is recommended. (MSE)

In their use of endowment, real estate, and intellectual property, entrepreneurial institutions are moving aggressively to develop their assets. Although thoughtful and moderate uses of these assets can be financially important during periods of financial pressure, overeager institutions may find the results disastrous, as Boston University's…

The concept of team teaching and how real estate education might profit from its use are considered. Contents are as follows: (1) an explanation of this concept for organizing instruction, alternative modes for structuring teaming, a discussion of the strengths and weaknesses inherent in a team approach to instruction, and the research that…

Under existing laws, the federal and some state and local agencies can hold current real estate owners liable for cleaning up property contaminated with hazardous wastes. This applies whether the property is purchased or comes as a gift. Schools should develop hazardous-gift policies and investigation procedures. (MSE)

The Teachers Insurance and Annuities Association (TIAA) is criticized for inadequate financial disclosure of its mortgage and real estate investments, especially in the current market. A TIAA vice president responds that the company has not been remiss in reporting changes to its constituents and outlines its present financial status. (MSE)

A campus's physical presence typically serves as the "front door" for key audiences and important constituencies, creating an initial and often enduring image within the community from which it hopes to attract students, faculty, and staff. Effective real-estate management presents opportunities to design a more inviting welcome sign.…

The largest, and potentially most profitable partnership between educational institutions and the private sector is the large-scale real estate development, also know as the science park, the high-technology center, or the research and development park. Such partnerships have earned the adjective "entrepreneurial." (MLW)

Several court cases involving acquisition, use, and disposal of property by institutions of higher education are briefly summarized in this chapter. Cases discussed touch on such topics as municipal annexation of university property; repurchase of properties temporarily allocated to faculty members; implications of zoning laws and zoning board…

The history of higher education's attitudes toward and involvement in real estate is chronicled, and the University of Virginia's recent confrontation of these issues is explained. The university's planning process included employing a consulting firm that recommended policy and regional cooperative efforts. Results to date are described. (MSE)