Reports on the experience of the University of Pennsylvania in outsourcing the operation and maintenance of its campus buildings. Finds differing opinions on why the contract with Trammell Crow Company has not been successful, such as the extreme state of disrepair of many of the buildings. Also notes the experiences of institutions in this…

Describes changes in many library schools' curricula to emphasize training for high-tech careers in information management rather than traditional library skills and careers. Reports on the experience of the University of Michigan, which has restructured its library school into the new School of Information Management and Systems. (DB)

Reports on the increasing problem of gambling by college students. Notes that gambling is widely available through Internet gambling sites, illegal sports gambling, state lotteries, and even day trading on the stock market. Suggests that while some students may outgrow the habit with maturity, others might be developing long-term problems. (DB)

Reports on the success of the National Security Education Program, a federal program to encourage the study of language and countries of strategic importance to the United States. The program has supported more than 1,250 undergraduates and 620 graduates in study abroad. Critics decry its management by the Department of Defense and the involvement…

Analysis of an annual report on the economic status of college faculty notes an average salary increase of 3.7 percent, an increase in the number of institutions where full professors earn an $100,000 or more, and a salary lag of 24 percent between faculty and other highly educated professionals. Tables identify institutions with highest and…

Tables from an annual report on the economic status of college faculty provide data on average salaries by institution type, trends in faculty pay and the cost of living, average faculty salaries by rank and gender, and annual percentage salary increases since 1989-90. Also lists average faculty salaries at more than 1,700 institutions by rank.…

A review of the current status of state prepaid tuition plans and savings trust plans suggests that there is an accelerating trend toward participation in such programs. Also notes competition among programs and some problems (such as a negative audit in Colorado). (DB)

Discusses issues of university-corporate ties raised by Centennial Campus, the research park being developed by the North Carolina State University, which involves close ties between the university and about 60 companies. Considers financing issues, ongoing cooperative initiatives, and views of both supporters and critics. (DB)

Discusses the growing competition among commercial portal Web sites which list online courses available through various colleges, universities, and other institutions, noting that institutions may pay a flat fee to be listed or pay a commission for each individual who enrolls. Considers some hidden costs for institutions, the business strategies…

Tables summarize gender equity data from 542 members of Divisions II and III of the National Collegiate Athletic Association, including institutions with either the smallest or largest disparities between proportion of female undergraduates and female athletes; proportion of salaries spent on coaches of women's teams; operating expense budgets for…

Reports on a recent vote of the faculty senate at the University of California at Santa Cruz to institute mandatory letter grades instead of continuing its innovative narrative evaluation system. Reasons include effects on student recruitment, graduate school admissions, and employer considerations. Notes strong opposition from students and…

Reports on the ideas of Clifford Adelman, senior analyst at the Department of Education's Office of Educational Research and Improvement, noting his iconoclastic approach; research on enrollment patterns, student assessment, and remedial education; and reports on college-attendance patterns, engineering education, and women. Critics point to…

Describes the experiences of Bruce D. Weinberg, an assistant professor of marketing at Boston University (Massachusetts), who is doing all his shopping via the Internet to demonstrate to students what works and what fails when selling in cyberspace. (DB)

Describes efforts toward improved fire safety measures and regulations by individual institutions of higher education, states, national associations, and Congress after three students were killed in a dormitory fire at Seton Hall University (New Jersey) last fall. Emphasis is on the need for sprinklers in all dormitory rooms. (DB)

Reviews a variety of efforts aimed at helping graduate students with "all but dissertations" (ABDs) complete their dissertations and receive their doctoral degrees. Finds students experience major stresses in the dissertation process and in the job market. Notes increases in counseling provided, special programs, self-help books, personal coaches,…