The process of institutional performance assessment in higher education carries with it potential liabilities and warrants careful consideration. The political, methodological, economic, and philosophical cautions to be considered are described and procedures for effectively dealing with these issues are suggested. (Author/JMD)

Although seldom used by organizations such as schools, Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Reform Act of 1978 is definitely available to them. College administrators must understand how the code can work and overcome emotional resistance to filing a bankruptcy proceeding. Reviewers' comments to those ideas are included. (MSE)

Flaws in the New Communities program that are discussed in this essay include: (1) defective financial arrangements; (2) a lack of strategic aims and/or a special constituency; (3) inadequate backing by State and local governments; (4) poor leadership; (5) insufficient provisions for dealing with a poor national economy; and (6) private developer…

Trends in health care are examined, and nonprofessional and professional graduate education are compared with graduate dental education to determine differences. Alternatives for financing the latter, and future educational and government policies that may affect funding, are analyzed. (MSE)

The issue of termination of tenured appointments because of a demonstrably bona fide financial exigency is discussed. A viable framework has been set forth with the Krotkoff v Goucher College decision. Saving capital assets, overriding tenure, AAUP's view of termination, tenured versus nontenured, and lasting implications are outlined. (MLW)

This analysis of Black family systems describes the kinds of pressures (lack of money, unemployment, discrimination) that make it difficult for the Black family to maintain its integrity. A study conducted in the San Francisco Black community by the Westside Community Health Center forms the basis for the analysis. (MC)

Several newly-appointed presidents were interviewed regarding these questions: Is the college or university presidency what he expected it to be? How does the new president feel about the job? What are the most difficult and disappointing aspects of the job?

The University of the District of Columbia's radio station, whose mission was to play jazz and report on local public affairs and whose black audience was the fourth-largest of the nation's public radio outlets, has been sold due to financial problems. Critics are concerned that this and other such sales undermine the core mission of public…

In the 13 years since the Federal Trade Commission began encouraging colleges and other educational institutions to cooperate with the emerging wireless-cable industry, partnerships with attendant benefits and problems have grown. For some institutions, the initiatives have brought substantial income and better distance-learning systems; for…

Discusses the history of Alaska's higher education system, including the founding of its community colleges. Describes the 1986-87 restructuring of the colleges following the oil crisis in 1986, which left Alaska with one official community college. Indicates that universities have broadened their role to include many college functions. (19…

The charter-school movement is a transition to a total system change that began sometime after World War II and the Korean War. When 1960s educators started the alternative schools movement, they were really creating charter schools. Resistance to charter schools is based not on philosophy, but on scarce financial resources. However, educators…

Describes how state budget cuts may pose a greater threat to minority access to higher education than would a Supreme Court ruling against affirmative action in the Michigan cases. (EV)

Considers how the closure and consolidation of schools are seen by cash-strapped boards of education as means to save money. Addresses the same "seven red herrings" or arguments that are repeated loudly and angrily to officials as they go through the process of public consultation. (SG)

Summarizes results of an inquiry into the amount of difficulty that school principals in British Columbia (Canada) were experiencing with specific external, internal, and staff-related matters. The most difficult external managerial problems included dealing with a shrinking education budget and handling a wide variety of tasks and decision-making…

Using a methodology previously applied to municipalities, this paper examines the fiscal condition of Nebraska's school districts. Nebraska contains over 900 districts, ranging from very small to large full-service districts in Lincoln and Omaha. The largest and smallest districts are in best fiscal condition. State aid inequities could be…