In a period of consumer orientation, it is perceived that higher education must respond to calls for accountability and questions about academic ethics and fair practice. Discussions include the student as consumer activist, the government as protector, public confidence in education, and possible college reactions. (Author/MLW)

Discussions of public and private institution rule-making indicate (1) that courts are increasingly receiving grievances of athletes and schools on their merits and (2) the nature of regulatory process in amateur athletics is changing from almost complete private regulation to increasing public supervision from the courts. (AF)

Reviews political science literature on changing state politics. A statistical analysis focuses on the relationship between changing legislative structures and higher education for all 50 states. Presents a case study of Pennsylvania that suggests a possible causal relationship between changing political structure and limitation of public…

Current trends, major controversies, and challenges in educational economics in Eastern and Central Europe resulting from dramatic social and political change since 1989 are examined. Democratization of decision making, an immediate trend toward decentralized administration, transformation of relationships between general government and education,…

Polish legislation concerning higher education since 1990 has focused on increasing institutional autonomy, but brought with it an unrealistic reliance on market mechanisms for positive change. This has resulted in a non-integrated system and inadequate public policy for science and higher education. It is the institutions themselves that have…

Issues of institutional accountability for colleges and universities are examined in the American and European contexts, particularly as market forces gain importance in Europe. Varying forms of accountability (formal, through accreditation; financial; and academic) and two dimensions of accountability (external vs. internal, legal vs. financial)…

In a national survey, public university faculty, presidents, trustees, coordinating boards, and legislators (total n=251) identified where they felt authority effectively rested for five typical university-related decisions and where they believed authority should rest. Although most believed in campus-based decisions, there was some disagreement…

Aspects of Greek universities discussed include: current supply and demand for higher education, locus of decision-making under the new university organization, public finance, the state of academic and financial independence, and current issues of debate, including graduate study, research, and the recognition of private universities by the…

When seeking to maintain autonomy, universities must be aware of three temptations: politicization, through both involvement in external political conflicts and imposing political orthodoxy internally; diversion of faculty energy from teaching and research toward excessive external consulting; and emphasis on commercial activity for its own sake…

Societal issues likely to affect higher and professional education in the near future and how the university can respond are examined. Issues discussed include trends in higher education enrollment, technological advancement, rapidly increasing cultural pluralism in the United States, student aid in a time of retrenchment, and institutional…

Trends in higher education that are pushing it from a principally public enterprise to a largely private one are examined, including the shift away from public financial support and greater internal management problems. An increasing market orientation is predicted, bringing price and demand into equilibrium, fostering privatization, and infusing…

Discusses one example of successful school restructuring by means of an examination of California's Bowling Green Elementary School. Key contributing elements discussed are having a low student-to-teacher ratio; using integrated thematic instruction; developing an efficacy approach; mastering adopted standards; and developing site-based decision…

It is argued that policies decentralizing the governance of educational systems, although appealing in the abstract, tend to be fundamentally ambivalent and in conflict with powerful forces favoring centralization. Tensions surrounding the issue of decentralization are discussed, with emphasis on the relationship between decentralization and…

Key developments affecting higher education worldwide are examined, including post-World War II expansion in the Third World, broadened access to education, autonomy, and accountability. Reforms driven by societal demands, changing patterns of funding and access, and the political role of students. Issues for the near future are discussed.…

Higher education institutions must find a balance between their internal mission and external forces in governance, autonomy, quality vs. quantity in research, curriculum breadth, curiosity-motivated vs. mission-oriented research, excellence vs. equality, and academic freedom vs. ideological conformity. Each institution will resolve these dilemmas…