Saint Mary's College (Maryland) is a small state liberal arts institution that has extensive control over its budget, property and assets, and decisions about borrowing money. These conditions, in effect since 1992, affords it substantial freedom from regulation, efficient spending, and greater opportunity to fulfill its mission as an honors…

Louisiana's program of state merit scholarships, inspired by Georgia's HOPE Scholarship program, is over budget in its first year because lawmakers pushed to expand eligibility and data for estimating costs was inadequate. Critics find such programs often provide aid to families with little financial need. The program pays full tuition at state…

A major lobbying and advertising effort on behalf of women's athletics of the University of Minnesota, one of the few major sports-playing institutions where the women's athletic department operates independently from the men's program, is described. (MLW)

A national survey by the National Association of State Scholarship and Grant Programs found that state spending on grants and scholarships for needy undergraduates is expected to rise 13 percent. State budgets, money for graduate students, and new programs planned are discussed. (MLW)

The Rhode Island Children's Crusade for Higher Education, funded by state and private sources, is an ambitious, large-scale, long-term effort to prevent dropouts, illegal drug use, and pregnancy among low-income and minority groups. Recruitment of volunteer "mentors" has been highly successful, suggesting strong public support. (MSE)