Discusses how professional schools, except for medicine, are reporting surges in applications and enrollments, as graduating seniors decide to avoid the job market. (EV)

Discusses why, for these three liberal arts scholars, for-profit colleges offer an attractive alternative to traditional academe. (EV)

Explores how most states have adopted financing systems that link colleges' appropriations to performance, despite little evidence that the plans produce results. (EV)

Describes how colleges are starting to consider online work in evaluations of professors; the key may be a growing movement for peer review of Web sites and online teaching materials. (EV)

Examines how the wealthy Lumina Foundation aims to improve student access to college, but that its origins in the student loan industry raise suspicions about its motives. (EV)

Describes how, in the past three months, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) has put more bite into penalties imposed on colleges that violate rules. Explores what is behind the pattern. (EV)

Discusses the variety of efforts being made by some colleges to attract more females into the field of engineering; the discipline is trying to stress its social relevance, an important factor for many women. (EV)

Discusses how the job market for scholars of Islamic history, culture, and languages has never been better. (EV)

Explores how toughened admissions policies have reshaped the City University of New York, attracting many new students but turning some immigrants away. (EV)

Discusses how private colleges are feeling the impact of the economic downturn; even wealthy institutions are cutting back, but the smallest institutions appear to be most vulnerable. (EV)

Describes how many college officials are confused by the USA Patriot Act, a new anti-terrorism law that may affect campus networks and library records; they believe its provisions could raise privacy and academic freedom issues. (EV)

Duke University asked applicants to indicate where they received assistance on their essays, and many of the replies were quite revealing. Some admissions experts fear the university is inviting students to be dishonest by asking them about the help they received. (EV)

Explores why, whether they come from politics, business, or the military, people who move to academe after substantial careers in other fields face a unique set of challenges. (EV)

Discusses why many states are turning to community colleges to help them meet the growing need for elementary- and secondary-school instructors. Includes a sidebar with examples of such teacher education programs. (EV)

Describes how Bennett College, an historically black women's institution, is trying to regroup after its latest president lasted only seven months. (EV)