This report of commercial Web sites which post class notes without faculty permission focuses on moral aspects, possible copyright violations, and potential lawsuits. Web site operators counter that the notes, taken by students, are "interpretations" of the class rather than verbatim transcripts. A few faculty are supportive of the Web sites. (DB)

Reviews the activities and research projects in education supported by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. The Foundation's current emphases are on the humanities, campus diversity, granting fellowships, and working with premier institutions. Recent publications by Mellon staff have increased the visibility of the Foundation's activities. (DB)

A new Web site provides a new structure for tuition discounting by allowing a student to bid the amount he/she is willing to pay, which member institutions accept or reject. The site is intended to help match students with institutional members of the consortium, usually less-well-known smaller schools. Possible difficulties for both institutions…

Describes a program for graduate students at the University of Texas, which emphasizes development of written and oral communication skills, both when communicating with professional peers and with the lay public. The 13 interdisciplinary courses offered in the university's Professional Development Program are intended to turn out well-rounded…

The Math Emporium at Virginia Tech provides basic computer-assisted mathematics instruction for undergraduates, producing higher grades as well as accolades from technology advocates. However, a lack of commercial mathematics software and the high costs of computer installation, support, and maintenance threaten continuation of the program. (DB)

Describes development and expansion of Life University (Georgia) to an institution with 3,500 students offering the doctor of chiropractic degree, a master's degree in sport health science, and bachelor's degrees in 32 related areas. Notes the president's dominant role and critics' objections to high salaries for the president and his family…

Discusses the increasing dropout rates at many colleges and various efforts by institutions to retain students, including a greater emphasis on smaller "learning communities," special programs for high-risk students, tuition credits, development of early warning systems. Notes, however, that some students and colleges are mismatched and that some…

Describes three law suits filed by part-time community college faculty members in Washington State for retirement benefits, health care benefits, and unpaid wages and overtime. Notes that college officials insist they have violated no state laws. Reports on the development of a lobbying group among the state's thousands of part-time faculty…

Describes efforts at several universities to maintain ongoing contact with alumni through e-mail lists, Web sites and CD-ROM, or on-line alumni directories. Examples of such activities at Stanford University (California), Caltech (California), Dickinson College (Pennsylvania), and Princeton University (New Jersey) are highlighted. (DB)

Summarizes College Board data indicating that college tuition and fees rose this year an average of 3.4% at four-year public institutions and 4.7% at four-year private institutions, a decline from previous rates of increase but still greater than the inflation rate. Average tuition and fees ranged from $15,380 at four-year private institutions to…

This table, compiled by the College Board, lists tuition and fees for 1998-1999 and 1999-2000 for in-state and out-of-state students for over 3,000 institutions of higher education. The figures represent charges to first-time, full-time undergraduates based on a nine-month academic year of 30 semester hours or 45 quarter hours. Schools are listed…

In an effort to eliminate the part-time teaching track for all faculty except those who hold professional jobs outside academe, Georgia State University created 95 new full-time faculty positions and filled 62 of these positions with former part-time faculty. For the time being, however, all the positions are non-tenure-track "visiting" positions.…

The experiences of California college and university students suggest that Hope credits and Lifetime Learning credits, federal tax credits designed to help working students and middle-class families afford college, are having a limited impact. Award calculation, income limits, tax liability policy, college costs, and financial aid all affect the…

Drexel University (Pennsylvania) has agreed to manage Allegheny University of the Health Sciences, now known as MCP Hahnemann University (Pennsylvania) in a unique arrangement designed to save the latter institution from bankruptcy. Drexel will administer the institution until summer 2001, when it will decide to either merge or part ways. (MSE)

Increasingly, colleges, universities, and companies are delivering high school courses over the Internet. Focus of these "virtual high schools" is mainly on advanced placement and college-preparatory courses in subjects that traditional high schools, particularly in low-income areas, cannot offer. The financing of such courses varies, and little…