The drop in the stock markets around the world focuses attention on the role of equities in retirement plans. Steps that faculty members--and specifically those in TIAA-CREF--should consider are presented. (MLW)

Lower-than-anticipated returns in the bond market and higher-than-expected tuition increases have forced Duquesne University to discontinue the nation's first prepaid-tuition program and is causing other institutions to reevaluate the idea. However, interest remains high among some. (MSE)

Trends in the market value of college and university endowments, reflecting changes in market value, interest, and dividends, are summarized and listed for 100 institutions. Overall 1-,3-, 5-, and 10-year gains in equities, bonds, and total funds are tabulated. (MSE)

Provides two computer programs, written in BASIC, to calculate average stock market price levels. The programs allow students to work directly from the raw price data that appear daily in the financial news. Teaching suggestions are provided. (JDH)

There is opportunity for service and profit to imaginative libraries organizing to provide new forms of knowledge. Librarians as entrepreneurs must learn venture management and finance. Available assistance includes growing entrepreneural understanding in large institutions; family and friends; private wealth-seeking investment; new business…

Two important responsibilities of a trustee investment committee are the selection of the managers and the asset allocation of the endowment fund. Benefits from outside management include the ability to select firms that specialize in a particular segment of the market and the spreading of assets to reduce risk. (Author/MLW)

Complexities in managing TIAA-CREF contracts are reviewed. Attention is directed toward participation, period considerations, selection of retirement age, retirement income transition, estate considerations and beneficiaries, voluntary additional contributions, and supplemental retirement annuity contracts. (LBH)

The approval of Proposition 301 by Arizona voters in November 2000 was a significant step toward a new foundation for the state's economic future by providing a long-term funding stream for science and technology investments. This new sales tax enabled the state to create an economic development strategy appropriate for the knowledge economy. This…

Compares costs and benefits to derive a rate of return of 18 percent on investment in the 2-year college. (BH)

Shows that the generally high returns to high school graduation are not universal. For some specific occupations, completing high school is not economically justifiable. (BH)

White males, compared with males of other races, show a higher rate of return for the average social cost of schooling. (CH)

Middle school students practiced their math skills and learned about the stock market by selecting and managing their own hypothetical portfolios of real stocks. (SJL)

Points out the rift between the non-discrimination ethic of social workers and the apartheid policy in South Africa. University corporate investments in South Africa are questioned, especially those from universities with graduate schools of social work. (LAB)

Pension plan officials may invest on the basis of perceived social benefits provided they have examined a broad range of investments and have found selections having those socially desirable features among a broad class of otherwise suitable and equally desirable investment opportunities meeting the economic objectives of the plan. (Author/IRT)