Widespread reports of substantial tuition increases have generated an atmosphere of crisis, but state colleges are reassuring parents that the costs affect relatively few people and are illogically affecting state tuition policies. (MSE)

The Supreme Court's 1992 decision on desegregation in state higher education systems is criticized for lacking force and creating confusion. The ruling encourages states to support historically black colleges by adding academic programs. Some feel the ruling will not help most black students, who are enrolled in predominantly white institutions.…

The Department of Education has ruled that a federal privacy-protection law gives college students the right to see their admissions files, based on a Harvard University graduate's request. The ruling could help shed light on how institutions select students and on the validity of racial discrimination charges in other institutions. (MSE)

The Internal Revenue Service has acknowledged that audits of graduate students receiving stipends were based on inconsistent interpretations of tax law but deny any policy to increase monitoring of graduate students' tax returns. (MSE)

A Bowdoin College (Maine) policy banning military recruitment on campus, because the armed forces will not recruit openly gay people, has been dropped because of the introduction of federal legislation cutting off federal research funding to colleges barring military recruitment. (MSE)

A Supreme Court ruling found that federal programs or policies based on race must meet a legal test of strict scrutiny, requiring the program to demonstrate a compelling government interest and be narrowly tailored. Legal experts suggest that few federal affirmative action programs currently meet the standard. (MSE)

While increased attention is being paid by federal policy-makers to improved science education, many academics feel the approaches and funding is too limited and far-reaching change is necessary, including coordination of programs, reduced anti-education bias in research programs, and federal adoption of responsibility for science education. (MSE)

New federal Department of Education guidelines put responsibility for monitoring campus racial climate on individual colleges. The policy statement contains some elements pleasing to minority students and others attractive to civil libertarians. However, its broad definition of harassment is criticized by some. (MSE)

The Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools' policy allowing reviewers to consider a college's efforts to recruit and retain minority students and faculty members is being studied, with the controversial recommendation made that the Education Department delay recognition of the accrediting agency. (MSE)

The legislative outlook for higher education is summarized state by state. Appropriations requests show the amount sought by state-wide coordinating boards or by individual college and university systems, not by governors. All appropriations requests are for operating expenses of the 1989-1990 fiscal and academic years. (MLW)

The U.S. Supreme Court decision that it is unconstitutional for public entities to ban specific kinds of "fighting words" without banning all such speech is discussed as it concerns institutions of higher education. It is viewed that the college campus, not the cities, is where this decision will be tested. (GLR)

The Department of Education, criticized by colleges for its guidelines on investigating racial harassment and hate-speech charges, will issue a new policy on First Amendment implications of such inquiries. A major issue is school responsibility for racial harassment by diverse populations over whom colleges may have little control. (MSE)

The departure of the University of North Carolina's able and powerful president, William P. Friday, has prompted much debate about the structure and governance of the university system and its relationship to the state legislature. (MSE)

California state commission recommendations cover a wide range of issues, including freshmen and sophomore enrollment at universities, minority student and faculty recruitment, and the tenure review process. The plans would update the 1960 Master Plan for Higher Education. (LB)

The Education Department's Office for Civil Rights will develop new policies to prevent sexual harassment of college students and age discrimination in admissions to graduate and professional schools. It will also complete projects to help colleges deal with incidents of racial harassment and to prevent sex discrimination in athletics. (MSE)