In many of the 40 states where assessment is required by state law or policy, faculty members and administrators have shaped assessment programs so that colleges have the flexibility to use several kinds of measurements, not just tests. Some of the political controversy brought about by assessment requirements are described. (MLW)

The McKnight Foundation presented a plan to Florida state higher education officials to create a perpetual fund to help support Black students pursuing doctoral degrees. The Florida Endowment Fund concentrates on those students whose grades are good but whose test scores may not be. (MLW)

Liability suits against college sports programs can be devastating. Interest in liability insurance, which protects the institution and its personnel if an athlete sues, is on the rise, and half of all college-sports programs now own insurance policies that provide lifetime benefits to athletes who suffer catastrophic injuries. (MLW)

The issue of giving proper attribution in speeches--a problem that cost Joseph Biden his presidential candidacy--flared up in academe this year. Richard J. Sauer withdrew his candidacy for the presidency of North Dakota State University amid allegations that he plagiarized part of a speech he had delivered. (MLW)

Deferred maintenance has been known to be a costly and growing issue on America's campuses. A new survey sent to 750 plant administrators is discussed. The cost of catching up and keeping up is more than most institutions can afford. (MLW)

Colleges and universities are finding that they are not always valued in the community, but may be perceived to be straining public services and not contributing adequately to the community's resources or well-being. (MSE)

The American Association of University Professors has voted to add four institutions to its list of 47 censured colleges and universities, remove the University of Maryland from the list when its Board of Regents adopts procedures to safeguard academic freedom and tenure, and re-examine Northwestern University's case. (MSE)

While Justice Lewis F. Powell, Jr.'s opinion in the Supreme Court's ruling on Allen Bakke vs. Regents of the University of California has set the ground rules for most student affirmative action programs, both critics and supporters remain unhappy about the status of affirmative action in higher education. (MSE)

While the National Collegiate Athletic Association made no policy changes in its recent meeting, many presidents, athletics directors, and other sports officials attending may have made substantial progress toward reform through extensive exchange of ideas on the notion of federation within divisions, the legislative process, and financial aid…

An annual survey of college faculty pay shows faculty in "hard-to-hire" disciplines such as engineering, accounting, physics, and computer science continue to command higher-than-average salaries, while disciplines recently at the bottom of the pay scale remain there. At all ranks except full professor, private college faculty earned more. (MSE)

The Supreme Court has ruled that statistical evidence about the effects of an employer's policies can be used to prove discrimination in situations where a variety of imprecise criteria are used. The decision is applicable to faculty salary and tenure disputes. (MSE)

Hamilton College has developed an imaginative program for young alumni that organizes activities geared to young adults' tastes and interests. Since its establishment, the college has had large increases in giving by this group. Nationwide, other colleges are raising substantial funds by targeting young graduates. (MSE)

The Online Computer Library Center, which provides catalogs and interlibrary loan services to most of the nation's libraries, is approaching a financial crossroads and must decide whether to diversify or cut back services. One option would serve academic and research libraries better; the other option would serve public libraries better. (MSE)

Average faculty salaries in 47 disciplines are presented by rank for public and private institutions. Salaries for new assistant professors are displayed separately in addition to those for all assistant professors. (MSE)

Despite the complexity of current financial aid application forms, federal officials want to stabilize the process of assessing financial need and are not likely to simplify the forms soon. (MSE)