This study assesses how much control governments of the Commonwealth of Nations (formerly the British Commonwealth) are exercising over their universities. The study encompassed a review of the relevant literature, an examination of the acts and statutes which control universities, and a questionnaire sent to 70 university vice chancellors, which…

One of the major goals of the Second Education International (EI) Conference on Higher Education and Research was to strengthen EI's position as the representative global organization of teachers and research workers, and to develop the role of these unions. Papers in this volume cover major issues and challenges in the international education…

This paper discusses regional accreditation, a common form of institutional quality assurance, noting its application to distance education. Six core academic values sustain regional accreditation: institutional autonomy; collegiality and shared governance; faculty intellectual and academic authority; the degree; general education; and site-based…

Recent abandonment of certain established criteria in Australia's system of resource allocation for higher education are discussed along with resulting effects. The criteria include: specific institutional needs, nondisruption of institutional activities, and recognition of institutional autonomy. (MSE)

Italy's Universities Act of 1981, designed to establish new hiring and working conditions for faculty, also initiates reform of university organization and teaching. Uniformity of faculty rank and terms of service, curtailment of anarchic growth, experimentation with new organizational and governance structures, and innovations in scientific…

The various and developing forms of governmental intervention and control affecting universities are discussed. State intervention and control, program audits and evaluations, and federal intervention are described. The cost of interventions into institutional autonomy and the negative effect on quality are seen as increasing. (MLW)

Institutional atonomy, from the standpoint of accountability and responsibility, is discussed in order to arrive at a concept of the kind and degree of autonomy essential for an educational institution to effectively and efficiently fulfill its responsibilities to society. (MLW)

The aftermath of a Pennsylvania judge's overturning the trustees of Wilson College's decision to close is described. A new board and new president found themselves confronted with a public relations handicap--Judge Keller's decision was almost universally perceived as governmental intrusion. (MLW)

Ernest L. Boyer, president of Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, is interviewed. Among the topics discussed are his tenure as U.S. Commissioner of Education, the influence of the higher education community--including university presidents and national educational organizations--on public and educational policy, and government…

Presidents and governing boards of institutions of higher education are shown to be leaders mainly in title and visibility. Internal limitations by technical staffs and the external power of accrediting agencies and state and federal governments are discussed. (Article originally published in 1972.) (AF)

Summarizes proceedings and discussion at the National Association of College and University Business Officers' November 1997 conference on the adverse effects of state requirements and practices on institutional effectiveness. Attendees included campus leaders, state legislators, corporate representatives, and state administrators. Central issues…

School legislation is often designed to alter the fundamental structure of the public education system. Article describes elements of charter-school legislation and provides examples of strong and weak laws. Discusses California's experience to date with charter schools, issues to consider when assessing the implications of charter-reform…

The beliefs that underpin traditional governance in higher education no longer fit the reality of higher education leadership. Higher education must abandon the quest for the perfect governance structure and attend to the nature of effective governance. Focusing on autonomy and control issues distracts from solving problems of access,…

Describes the effects of electronic technologies on instruction, scholarly communication, and the storage and preservation of knowledge in higher education. The discussion covers the need to restructure universities, resolve the conflict between institutional autonomy and standardization, and explore new patterns of funding and staffing. (50 notes…

Describes a study of the location of decision-making authority in state community colleges at the college or governance board level. Examines differences in authority for academic, personnel, and administrative matters. Suggests that decision-making authority generally rested at the local level, although personnel decisions were more likely to be…