Janet Napolitano is the governor of Arizona and chair of the National Governor's Association. Napolitano, a Democrat, has brought a new energy to her state and to the nation with initiatives that demonstrate the fact that she really means business. Topping the list is Innovation America, which aims to drive American competitiveness via government…

A "renaissance of the university" in the European knowledge society is regarded today as a necessity. However, there is an ongoing debate about what that renaissance should look like. The aim of this article is to take a closer look at these debates, and in particular, the disputes related to the public role of the (future) university in…

"Reopening the school as a public charter school" is Option #1 on the list of NCLB's restructuring alternatives for failing schools. But this has not proved a popular choice. NCLB made the bold assumption that states and districts would voluntarily turn over the reins to charter operators. The authors of the legislation must have…

Focusing on women as state policymakers, this theme issue covers such topics as women in state cabinets and fundraising for women candidates. Discusses the recent rise of women in public office, their strategy of collaboration instead of confrontation, and the characteristics and leadership traits that women need to succeed in politics. (GEA)

Good working relationships with governors and state legislators are extremely important to trustees. It is important to approach the governor and legislators mindful of and sympathetic to the state's total needs. (MLW)

Proposes that public service be made a career in the full sense of the term and suggests changes in the selection of city, county, state, and federal officials and legislators to help bring about the development of politics as a professional career. (SK)

Explains how Town Hall meetings with high school students and California legislators-- the LegiSchool Project--provided the kinds of experiences that enabled the author to examine three essential conditions of democratic citizenship: student interest, respect, and appreciation. Illuminates what these three conditions consist of and how many…

Presents interviews with several women in state-level leadership positions in vocational-technical education about their positions and how they got there. The author suggests that women build networks, assess their career path and objectives, and take realistic steps to get where they want to go. (CT)

The Reagan administration in California used what some considered inflammatory rhetoric and seemed rigid, but in actual dealings it impressed many observers as flexible and willing to compromise. (Author/IRT)

Problems unique to central administrations and board members are discussed, including the line of authority, treating institutions equitably, exceeding statute-imposed limitations, the failure of board members to do their homework, and the extent to which the board should represent the people of the state and the institutions it governs. (MLW)

Interviews with state legislators from Wisconsin (D. Bezruki), Massachusetts (T. P. Kennedy), and Virginia (P. Leone) illustrate the roles that evaluation is playing in the current state budget crisis. The influence of evaluation data appears largely specific to individual programs rather than systematically applied to the budgeting process. (SLD)

The history of public higher education for African Americans in Florida provides an excellent opportunity to examine American institutional and political dynamics. Following World War II, Florida public higher education expanded dramatically, while at the same time, state leaders maintained racial segregation well after "Brown v. Board of…

Offers suggestions for state and local officials in preparing themselves for their role in the global economy. Provides tools for thinking systematically about techniques for cross-cultural training and making cost-efficient decisions about appropriate actions in different situations. (Author)

This article provides insight into the California state budget process and gives an overview of California's growing deficit. The author examines the decline in personal income gained from stock options and capital gains as a means of illustrating the economic factors that resulted in a $28 billion deficit. Next, the author turns his attention to…

Institutional administrators and research specialists must help improve and implement accountability measures if institutions are to retain academic autonomy. Current trends point to increased pressure for public accountability of higher education in the future. (MLW)