The Family Education Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 was designed to protect the privacy of students. This study found a large proportion of employers of educational personnel prefer confidential materials. Other studies should be conducted to determine if this may also be the preference with other organizations and institutions. (Author)

Subjects (N=430) rated social images of eight groups on 67 variables which previous study has shown to be important in employment hiring situations. Factor analysis yielded six major dimensions in social images. Variations in factor scores were examined to clarify disadvantages of each group in hiring situations. (Author)

Recent developments in the university system have created concern in many observers as to the condition of academic freedom and civil liberties in general in the Federal Republic of Germany. These developments include job bans and dismissals of radicals. (LBH)

Flexible tenure contracts are proposed as an alternative to the current college faculty tenure system. Such a contract would make more explicit, and potentially more varied, the contributions expected of the candidate, but avoid the tenure-track/non-tenure-track distinction. It could also help resolve conflicts over the relative weights to be…

Discusses the application of win-win mindsets and strategy in the employment of LIS (library and information science) graduate assistants in academic library reference services. Considers recruitment, training and support, transition, treating graduate assistants as colleagues, differences from graduate assistants who are not LIS students, and…

Examines quality of life issues for families and the policies and options available to employers to create a family- and worker-friendly organization. Discusses ways in which employers have improved productivity by providing dependent care and flexible working conditions. (Contains 28 references.) (JOW)

A survey of 55 land-grant institutions gathered information on policies and practices concerning preemployment testing, particularly for positions in the clerical, secretarial, accounting, and similar areas. Results suggest these institutions lag behind the private sector in selecting employees. Continuing revision and updating of testing is…

A survey of 44 institutions of higher education with full-time faculty and staff between 800 and 5,500 were surveyed for information about personnel office staffing patterns, workload, benefits program participation, record-keeping, coverage by union contracts, and provision of personnel services. Results are summarized, and institutions are…

Reported are the results of a survey of the economic status of members of the American Chemical Society. Included are employment, salaries, satisfaction, and the status of women in chemical occupations. (CW)

Budget pressures, tightening labor markets, and increasing public interest should prompt colleges and universities to review their wage and salary programs. Many administrators have never been exposed to practices other than those common to higher education, and trustees with corporate experience may provide some insight. (Author/MSE)

A recent Supreme Court ruling in a lawsuit concerning sex discrimination in corporate promotion decisions had circumstances similar to those in academic discrimination litigation, and may make it easier for college faculty to bring discrimination cases against colleges and universities. (MSE)

Cites court rulings that the plaintiff must identify the causal relationship between a statistical imbalance and specific employment practices. Indicates that university promotion, tenure, and salary decisions will be upheld if the judgments are based on a merit system with the criteria of teaching, research, and service. (MLF)

Considers racial impact of using ability tests for employment decisions. Notes agreement that large differences exist in performance on general ability among races and that there is probable relation between general ability and job performance for most jobs; disagreement about whether racial differences in general ability are fixed and about size…

Sound management of human resources requires policies and procedures that are developed carefully and applied consistently. Monitoring personnel decisions and developing databases that document their outcomes will help ensure that such decisions are not only made fairly but are perceived so by faculty. (Author/MSE)

The author describes Japan's phased retirement system, consisting of the "step down" from a management or supervisory position (commonly in the mid-50s) and the mandatory transfer to a subsidiary company later. The system allows companies to promote younger workers. However, in a depressed industry, the system generally results in…