Describes how the University of Washington's School of Communications responded to the news that it would be reviewed and possibly eliminated because of the budget crises in the state of Washington. (SR)

Reports on the closing of Bradford College (Massachusetts), a small independent institution with a recent history characterized by shifting strategies, a heavy debt burden, and unrealistic enrollment projections. Compares Bradford's experience with that of Trinity College (Vermont), another small, struggling but surviving, institution. (DB)

Globalization is a confused and confusing term being used to explain a wide range of phenomena. It is presented as being outside anyone's control, neutral, and free of class interests. The Asian financial crisis illustrates that human agency still plays a role. Popular educators can help reinforce the idea that collective action does make a…

This article is a personal faculty perspective regarding academic accreditation. It describes the psychological process and consequences of losing accreditation. Compton Community College was one of the oldest community colleges in California and has served a diverse population of students for over 50 years. As a result of severe administrative…

Certain higher-education institutions are at risk in 2007 and beyond, according to Moody's Investors Service, which gauges colleges' financial health. They include small private colleges with limited geographic draw, colleges with ambitious spending plans to improve their national reputations, and regional public universities that face heavy…

In recent years academic capitalism and a distancing from Mertonian scientific norms have shifted the traditional reward of academic science from peer recognition to the award of grants. With the shrinking of the NIH budget in real terms since 2003, there are increasing numbers of researchers whose careers are at risk from lack of funding. This…

The following issues should be considered in charging fees to job applicants to take examinations in public agencies: legal authority to charge, purpose of fee, disposition of the money, how much to charge, whether refunds are given, effect on affirmative action, waivers for inability to pay, effect on attendance at the exam, and how much revenue…

Describes how Roxbury Community College in Massachusetts is roiled by financial troubles and the threat of a state takeover in the wake of its president's departure. (EV)

House Democrats recently unveiled draft legislation for the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Widely touted as an economic stimulus package, the $825 billion draft legislation included as much as $142 billion for education. This includes the creation of a $79 billion State Fiscal Stabilization Fund to assist state governments in…

District of Columbia School Superintendent Franklin L. Smith faces overwhelming challenges, including student shootings, dilapidated facilities, undersupplied classrooms, and low student achievement. Franklin's biggest problem is a city budget crisis stemming from overspending, poor management, and bureaucratic incompetencies. Smith has pared his…

Describes how Meharry Medical College, a 125-year-old historically Black medical school, was on the brink of closing down, but that through new leadership and partnerships, the school is financially healthy, and its students' board scores are the highest in the school's history. (EV)

Begins with a general discussion of downsizing and its outcomes, then offers an analysis of downsizing in higher education with an emphasis on three points: the factors causing universities to consider downsizing, the special nature of universities that makes downsizing particularly difficult, and the downsizing methods used by universities. (EV)

The 2009 Newark Kids Count Report provides the first data on how the economic downturn in New Jersey and the nation is impacting the lives of children and families in Newark. It is no surprise that child poverty is on the rise again, after several years of progress in reducing the child poverty rate. Rising unemployment has impacted Newark…

Explores how budget cuts for libraries, university presses, journals, and the arts have combined to threaten the infrastructure on which professors and students depend. Includes sidebars on Appalachian State University's library, the Stanford and State University of New York (SUNY) presses, and the University of Iowa's history department. (EV)

Offers cautionary tales depicting how an "Enron mentality" infiltrated three universities and jeopardized their accreditation status. The schools were guilty, respectively, of bad bookkeeping, lack of strategy and stable leadership, and loss of academic integrity by selling degrees. (EV)