The American Council on Education's 14th annual report on the status of minorities in higher education suggests attacks on affirmative action could undermine the progress already made. Students of color continue to be underrepresented on most campuses. The report urges administrators to emphasize the educational benefits of affirmative action…

Reports preliminary findings of a new project aimed at understanding the nature of time-series fluctuations in degrees awarded in various disciplines, including economics. Examines the consequences of such fluctuations for resource allocation within universities. Compares statistics among economics, history, and political science degrees. Includes…

Notes that economics is often the second choice of students screened out of an undergraduate business program. Argues that the increased enrollment in business programs during the 1980s led to a transient rise in economics enrollment. Current declining enrollment in economics corresponds to a decline in business. (MJP)

Compares characteristics of those schools that have experienced an increase in awarding undergraduate economics degrees with those suffering a decrease. Findings suggest that business/management degrees offer competition against economics degrees. Schools not offering business/management are less at risk. (MJP)

Current trends in enrollment and finance in American colleges and universities are outlined, and the unique characteristics of American higher education are examined. The functional relationships among some key structural characteristics that give rise to some important, if unrecognized, social contributions of mass higher education are discussed.…

The impact of the migration of students from state to state on enrollment trends is discussed. Migration data of first-time freshmen is presented, using figures collected from institutions by the National Center for Education Statistics. (MLW)

Discusses data on the following topics: (1) average school district size; (2) proportion of students in very large districts; (3) average school size; (4) minority enrollments and measurements of size; (5) enrollment sizes and college entrance exams, high school graduation rates, and educational costs; and (6) measurements of size and private…

Compares the effectiveness of public and private schools by analyzing trends in enrollments, organization, and graduation and college entrance. Policymakers need to address the growing public willingness to consider private alternatives in education. (BJV)

A study examined characteristics of 40 women, 20 educationally ambitious Chicanas (receiving doctorates in the 1970s-early 1980s) and 20 receiving doctorates in the late 1980s-early 1990s. A control group of males was also studied. Differences and similarities in the two groups are noted, and the effects of tracking and mentoring are discussed.…

A study applied a human capital model to statistics on part-time adult college/university students in the United Kingdom and finding that part-time students account for approximately 40% of total student numbers of whom 42% are female and that part-time study is of significant benefit to both individuals and society. (Author/MSE)

Reviews the efforts of the American Council on Education, Education Commission of the States, American Association of Community and Junior Colleges, and the Quality Education for Minorities Project to revitalization minority participation in higher education. Highlights encouraging enrollment trends. (DMM)

Describes a study of the college-related experiences of 1980 high school graduates who enrolled full time at one of six San Francisco area community colleges in fall 1980 and were still enrolled at the same college in fall 1984. Reports that 28 percent were concurrently enrolled in a four-year college. (PAA)

Details California's experiences and paradoxes related to reverse transfer by giving some general background and state history of postsecondary policies. Provides results of recent interviews with some reverse transfer students. Contains 17 references. (VWC)

Examines the effects of the weakening of Russian educational standards on the quality of higher education and its applicants. Maintains that loosening the standards for competitive examinations has forced the higher education institutions to develop a system of college preparation and to institute concessions on enrollment. (MJP)

A speech given by Harold Hodgkinson on the demographics of higher education in the near future is summarized and excerpted. Topics discussed include growing ethnic diversity in the college-student population, applicant-pool projections, the relationship between education and income, attendance patterns (part- vs. full-time, time to degree), and…