Presents analysis, graphs, and tables on trends in enrollment of foreign students at U.S. higher education institutions, noting a 2 percent increase last year. Identifies institutions with the largest number of foreign students, top countries of student origin, student characteristics, and number of foreign students by state. Notes the need for a…

Presents analysis, graphs, and tables on trends in study abroad by American college students, noting a 13 percent increase last year. Identifies institutions with the largest numbers of students studying abroad, the top destinations, student characteristics, and program characteristics. Ascribes the increased demand to the strong U.S. economy,…

Discusses the increasing influence that the graduate student caucus is having on the Modern Language Association. Graduate students are now well represented on the organization's delegate assembly and executive council. Critics see the students as using fear and intimidation to press their needs in a bleak job market over other organizational…

An annual survey finds that states, overall, allocated about 7 percent, or $3.7 billion, more money for college operations and student aid this year than last. Two-year colleges, historically black public universities, and student aid received particularly large increases. The good economy and legislators' willingness to invest in higher education…

A chart summarizes state appropriations in the United States for major higher education institutions and programs for 1999-2000, noting the percentage change over the previous year. A second chart ranks the states by appropriation amounts and by one-year percentage change, and also provides specific appropriation amounts and five-year average…

Examines ownership issues relating to on-line Web-based distance education college courses, including shared ownership by institutions and professors, approaches copied from the entertainment industry, professors as "free agents," and additional compensation for course development. This issue is central to faculty contract negotiations. (DB)

Reports that current trends, including development of World Wide Web sites for college-bound students and decreased emphasis on Scholastic Assessment Tests by state universities, threaten the College Board's predominant position. Notes priorities of the Board's new president includes development of its own web site. Questions are raised about the…

Reports on the trend to provide alternative routes to teacher training and certification for individuals who have had careers or baccalaureate degrees in subjects other than education. Focuses on the Military Career Transition Program at Old Dominion University (Virginia). Various models of alternative training programs are noted. (DB)

Introduces A. Lee Fritschler, the new Assistant Secretary leading the Office of Postsecondary Education at the Department of Education. Notes that although the position has lost power and influence since the rise of the department's "performance-based organization" unit which runs student aid programs, Fritschler and others see opportunities in…

A University of Great Falls (Montana) faculty vote to unionize and a National Labor Relations Board decision that the faculty were employees, not managers, may be a breakthrough for faculty unionization at private colleges, signaling change in NLRB philosophy. Counting of the vote, taken in 1996, was delayed until December 1997, whereas…

Prospects for state legislatures' treatment of higher education issues are charted for all states with regular legislative sessions. Information provided includes the legislative session dates, summary budget requests, outlook for the budget request, other key higher education issues likely to be addressed, and private college issues under…

Although many older women in the United States control significant wealth, they often have little experience in financial and philanthropic decision making, having deferred to spouses in those areas. Increasingly, colleges are having special events to attract women donors but find they must provide substantial decision-making support, including…

A University of Washington study that found professors who are easy graders receive better evaluations than those who are tougher, and another study showing faculty enthusiasm alone raises student evaluations, have shaken a long-standing consensus among researchers that student evaluations are a good measure of a teacher's skills. Most…

Data from a 1997 national survey of 464 two- and four-year colleges and universities concerning freshman characteristics, opinions, activities, and goals are reported. Information includes age, ethnic background, religion, academic record, college distance from home, parent background, college planning and choice, educational goals, career goals,…

Despite pressure from Congress and faculty, and a series of revisions in federal regulations, the average rate charged the government by universities for overhead for federally financed research appears remains high. Average rate for the top 100 research institutions is over 50%; most of the highest rates are at private institutions; all the…