Reports on the great range of scholarship and activities engaged in by modern home economists and contrasts these with persistent stereotypes of the field as lacking intellectual rigor, all female, and socially conservative. Reviews the history of the field and highlights current research and other activities at Cornell University's College of…

Reports on the trend for increased earmarking of federal funds for specific colleges and universities and the accompanying rise in Congressional lobbying by these institutions. Identifies the 10 institutions that spent the most on independent lobbyists in 1999 as well as the 10 lobbying firms that billed academe the most. Notes the high costs and…

Reports on the spectacular returns on investments (especially in venture capital) reported by American universities with high endowments in 1999. Lists endowment performance by the nation's wealthiest 25 universities noting such returns as almost 60 percent by Duke University (North Carolina) and the University of Notre Dame (Indiana). Considers…

Reports on the increasing numbers of colleges and universities which are establishing wireless networks to allow student and faculty with laptop computers to connect to the college network and the Internet from anywhere on campus. Discusses the design of these networks, effects of "nomadic" learning environments, design problems, and the declining…

Discusses ideas from a new book, "Millennials Rising: The Next Great Generation," (by Neil Howe and William Strauss) suggesting that youth culture is on the cusp of a radical shift with the generation beginning with this year's college freshmen who are typically team oriented, optimistic, and poised for greatness on a global scale. Includes a…

Profiles four professors who epitomize the increasing influence of academe on new technology-driven Internet business: a start-up maven, Steven Kaplan; a social psychologist, Michael Ray; a cyberlawyer, David Post; and an e-commerce expert, Andrew B. Whinston. (DB)

Reports that North Carolina colleges are working together as never before to secure passage of the most expensive ($3.1 billion) statewide bond referendum package ever for the support of higher education in the United States. University and community college officials have cooperated in making the case across the state for the increased…

Reports that Yale University (Connecticut) is 5 years into the most expensive renovation and construction project any university has ever undertaken. The renovations, when completed around 2010, will cost about $2.6-billion and new construction another $400 million. Critics worry about preservation of historic buildings and Yale's intentions in…

Reports that student computer programmers from Russian universities, despite outdated equipment, poor facilities, and meager salaries, recently dominated the International Collegiate Programming Contest World Finals with the team from St. Petersburg State University winning first place. Western companies are developing arrangements with Russian…

Reports that, for black Americans, the "classic" football events between historically black colleges have become larger affairs featuring college fairs, Greek reunions, and networking in addition to the game. These events can be significant moneymakers for these athletics programs and often also include family activities, fashion displays, and…

Reports that universities are citing a 26-year-old federal law, the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA), to withhold information about teaching assistants from the unions trying to organize them. The graduate students say FERPA is being misapplied to squelch their organizing drives. Both students and administrators are quoted…

Reports on ongoing efforts in Mississippi and Maryland to integrate public colleges 47 years after "separate but equal" was declared unconstitutional. Notes controversy over the role of historically black colleges. In 10 states continuing college desegregation cases are in the courts. A graphic summarizes the status of these cases by state. (DB)

Reports that the class of 1990 of Stanford University (California) has pledged a record total for a class 10 years out of college. Suggests that Stanford's close relationship to Silicon Valley is responsible but that the volatility of the stock market illustrates the risks involved in fund raising from young Internet entrepreneurs. The $7.5…

Reports that many college and university athletics departments are utilizing one of two companies, Fansonly or Total Sports, for their Web site development and maintenance. The companies propose to deliver advertising profits, merchandising revenues, and donations to the university but so far monetary gains have been slight, as the sites face…

Reports that the College Board's annual survey of tuition and financial aid shows continuing escalation in the cost of higher education. Graphs and tables detail average college costs by institutional type, trends since 1990/91, and the most and least expensive public and private colleges. Notes especially students' increasing debt burdens as…