Reports on the controversial stands taken by John H. McWhorter, a black University of Berkeley associate professor, in his book "Losing the Race: Self-Sabotage in Black America." The book opposes affirmative action and suggests that black academic achievement lags because of a mindset endemic to black culture that discourages learning, while…

A group of 36 campus administrators, publishers, librarians, and association leaders have identified nine principles to radically change the scholarly publishing system, seen as necessary due to the continuing escalation of prices and volume. Principles focus on creating alternatives to high-cost journals, de-emphasizing publication quantity in…

Reports evidence that the federal government's three campus-based student aid programs are no longer serving needy students well, but rather benefit a select group of institutions. Urges changing the 20-year-old financial aid formula to better reflect changing college demographics. Contrasts aid received by students attending the University of…

Reports that women are now provosts at four Ivy League colleges and are holding an increasing number of the chief academic positions at major colleges and universities. Discusses implications for increasing the number of women who hope to become presidents of these institutions. (DB)

Reports that prominent medical professors are being solicited away from medical schools by large honoraria or high remuneration offered by commercial companies that provide continuing education services to physicians on the Internet. Suggests that medical schools consider potential partnerships with dot-com companies to develop continuing…

Reports on initiatives of the American Association of University Professors to reach out to graduate students and part-time professors and the association's increasing involvement in unionization battles. Notes plans to form partnerships with various groups, including the American Conference of Academic Deans and teaching assistant unions. The…

Reports on the process of selecting the first 4,000 beneficiaries of the Gates Millennium Scholars Program, which emphasizes the use of criteria other than grades and test scores to select scholarship recipients. Notes critics' views and the administrative feat of building the organization from scratch, publicizing the program in minority…

Reports on a temporary South African government moratorium on expansion of university distance-education programs while reorganization of higher education in that nation is planned. Notes that several private universities are drawing distance education students away from the nation's two principal public distance-education institutions. Notes a…

Offers suggestions for deciphering letters of recommendation in academia. Notes the critical role such letters play in job offers, tenure decisions, and grant decisions. A table gives examples of typical positive phrases in such letters and possible negative interpretations. A variety of examples illustrate problems of honesty, confidentiality,…

Reports on current efforts in many states to develop new long-range plans for their higher education systems. Finds that at least two dozen states are using strategic or "master" plans in an effort to deal with rapid technological and economic change. Specific efforts in West Virginia, California, Virginia, Illinois, Pennsylvania, New York, and…

Reports on changes at the Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association - College Retirement Equities Fund (TIAA-CREF), the dominant force in the higher education pension market, to counter declining investment by younger professors. Changes include addition of retail mutual funds and making some products available to the general public. Critics…

Discussion of the downtown in Internet stocks related to education focuses on the challenges to colleges and universities as they select companies with which to work. Suggests that companies with strong business models will succeed since investors are looking for profitability, recognized brands, and mature leadership. (DB)

Reports on a trend at community colleges to recruit underachieving high school students in their "bridge" or "dual enrollment" programs. Also reports that 25 community colleges in 10 states have high schools on their campuses for high-risk teenagers. Notes problems of financing such programs despite their success in exposing students to college…

Discusses the rapid growth of the Workers Rights Consortium, a student-originated group with 44 member institutions which opposes sweatshop labor conditions especially in the apparel industry. Notes disagreements about the number of administrators on the board of directors and about the role of industry representives. Compares this group with the…

Describes the increasing trend of incorporating electronic commerce methods to purchasing systems at colleges and universities. Provides examples from the University of Pennsylvania, Harvard University (Massachusetts), California State University at Fullerton, and the University of California at Los Angeles. (DB)