The retrenchment experience of Pennsylvania's state college system is described. The specter of retrenchment scared the campuses into finding new nonpersonnel cuts to make; a policy of intrasystem faculty transfer was finally adopted; and although campus presidents opposed retrenchment, by 1979-80 they were convinced of its necessity. (MLW)

Presents Research and Development (R&D) efforts at universities and colleges. Data are presented on where the money comes from, how it is spent, amount allotted to chemistry, schools that have the largest R&D efforts, and top R&D centers. (HM)

A college professor reflects on job satisfaction as it may apply to college professors in both universities and community colleges, lists opinions that both groups have about each other and themselves, and then lists work pleasures she has experienced at each. (MF)

Discusses changes that are merging traditional, continuing, and distance education into the virtual university. Topics include for-profit or not-for-profit, the compatibility of the profit motive with the concept of quality education, cooperation between academic and corporate cultures, knowledge, information and communications technology,…

Discusses higher education in the Czech Republic in light of the 1989 Velvet Revolution and the 1993 division of Czechoslovakia, focusing on secondary schools, motivation to enter higher education, admissions, funding, the state university system, capacity limits, and other barriers to access. (MDM)

Reports the findings of the Working Group on Capturing the Promise of Medical Research, which addressed questions concerning the direction of biomedical research, academia-industry relations, and the integration of scientific developments in medical education and practice. A dominant theme emerged: the central importance of an environment of…

Factor analysis of 127 private and public universities found that graduate and undergraduate academic reputations are largely explained by the same two factors, size and selectivity. Institutional research activity was the most essential component of the size factor. Findings suggest that reputation strongly influences college attendance choices,…

The staff in a teaching excellence program at the University of Colorado at Boulder analyzed research on new faculty needs and designed a program to support newly-hired, tenure-track faculty in improving their teaching. The approach used in the program, responses of participating faculty, and areas for future analysis are described. (Author/MSE)

As New England public colleges and universities delve into private foundation fund raising, they must overcome a Standing bias in favor of private colleges, a poor regional record in philanthropy, and flat foundation and corporate support of higher education. They must draw on the lessons learned by state institutions in the upper Midwest.…

A study of Dutch universities from 1974-93 examined factors in the emergence of new academic programs and specializations, particularly the effects of government funding mechanisms (external factor) and level of paradigmatic development (internal factor), drawing on social exchange and resource dependency theory. Results indicate these two factors…

Discusses issues in the University of California's policies concerning recording of disciplinary actions on student transcripts, including the conflicting recommendations of a number of professional associations in higher education concerning student records, provisions of the Federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, and inconsistency in…

Analyzes the level of publishing productivity of faculty at 94 institutions with membership in the Association of Research Libraries using three citation indexes for 1991-93. Ranks members by number and per capita publications and finds no significant relationship between publishing measures and other variables: volumes, materials and total…

A survey of 55 full-time faculty at Southeast Missouri State University examined the relationship between perceived work environment, particularly factors most frequently identified as variables influencing job satisfaction, and overall job satisfaction. Results showed a healthy faculty attitude toward the institution and its mission and positive…

In an interview, Blenda J. Wilson discusses aspects of her role as president of the University of California-Northridge, including decision making in the face of an earthquake and of controversial campus freedom-of-speech situations, the preparation and selection of college presidents, the threat to affirmative action policy, and being a role…

Data on each state's fiscal 1996-97 appropriations to postsecondary education are presented, giving dollar amounts and two-year changes for individual institutions and other categories, such as aid to private colleges and allocations for vocational education, community colleges, technical colleges, and student financial aid. States are also ranked…