With nearly 1 in 11 of first-year college students reporting a disability, colleges are responding in different ways, from policies to architecture. Activists for the disabled say the first serious efforts date to the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Educators see high cost and educational issues as barriers to compliance. The law is not…

Although religious beliefs of college students opposing abortion may be sincere, they must yield to the institution's need to decide what programs will serve the entire student body's needs. When the Supreme Court rules on a challenge to allocation of mandatory student fees, it will apply principles of religious freedom. (MSE)

Because AIDS will probably remain a significant force, schools must revamp inadequate HIV prevention programs. Schools should focus on HIV risk behaviors, help students make more realistic risk estimates, emphasize skill development relevant to HIV-risk situations, use data on normative peer behavior, devote more classroom time to HIV education,…

The University of Wisconsin (Madison) has developed a pilot Environmental Stewardship Initiative, a mechanism for incorporating environmental stewardship into the university's operations and curriculum. The complex and dynamic campus ecosystem serves as a model community and field station for student research on natural history and institutional…

Availability of money damages for violations of Title IX of the 1972 Higher Education Amendments, as determined by a 1992 Supreme Court decision, will increase the number of college campus sexual harassment cases that are decided in the courts. Thoughtful, well-drafted institutional policies and staff training are currently the best resource.…

A discussion of academic freedom in legal education looks at the extent to which the professional, as distinguished from the purely academic, functions of law schools challenge traditional assumptions about academic freedom and institutional political neutrality. The issues of institutional diversity and specialization are also addressed. (MSE)

This article reframes school violence in the context of educational mission goals so that teachers can understand their role in responding to it and acknowledge their skills in addressing it. The article examines types of violence that occur most frequently in schools, evaluates what is known about teacher preparedness, and encourages educators to…

College administrators have an obligation to educate faculty and staff as consumers of retirement plan services. Employers can face liability if they limit plan participation to overly restrictive investment alternatives. A task force representing employees should be appointed to make vendor selections. (MSE)

This paper examines learning-disabled students' change in legal status as they leave high school, which is structured by Public Law 94-142, and enter college settings structured by Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. The paper discusses implications of the change, transition programs, and guidelines for developing legal transition…

The challenge of maintaining the richness of cultural diversity will be won or lost in the 1990s. Necessary ingredients include revamping curricula; building cadres through staff diversification, new teaching strategies, and teacher retraining; offering teachers incentives for community involvement and second-language study; and fostering parent,…

Best way to prevent high school students from dropping out is to address problems at elementary or middle school. At-risk students do not differ greatly from other middle-school students but need specific individualized assistance with academic skills and warm, nurturing advocate to help build self-esteem and achieve success in school work. Middle…

Discusses (1) school drug testing and reasons why schools should have embraced it; (2) educational systems' responses to student drug testing and reasons schools have not adopted it; and (3) school social organization and politics accounting for schools' deploring drug use yet ignoring potentially useful technology. Four responses are appended.…

A comprehensive risk-management program associated with athletic activities contains the following essential components: (1) policies and procedures; (2) training; (3) supervision; (4) corrective action; (5) review and revision; (6) legal counsel and support. Action steps follow each of these major areas. (29 case references) (MLF)

Residential schools for students with blindness or visual impairments should be viewed as organizations that can provide the leadership for improved services statewide. Residential schools can become active partners in their communities by maximizing the use of the school's facilities, expanding outreach services, and developing cooperative…

The president of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago discusses the history of and issues in two art exhibits at the institution, one in which a late mayor was depicted in a controversial manner and another in which the United States flag was displayed in an unusual way. (MSE)