Assesses the development of the model of the student as a consumer of higher education. A short history of the consumer movement and the educational consumer movement is presented. The current status of the latter is reviewed and compared with developing trends in educational consumer rights. (RC)

Schools must accelerate the development of expertise in the area of self-governance to countermand the increasing burden of external legislative intervention. (LH)

Government regulation of recombinant DNA research is addressed. Issues discussed include the potential of such research; National Institutes of Health guidelines; federal, state, and local regulation; the controversy over self-regulation; first amendment protection for scientific research; and problems in drafting legislation. (JMD)

Since 1969 dormitory residency requirements have been under constitutional challenge. This discussion suggests a judicial trend supporting the requirements has been established. Housing administrators should note that not every requirement has been upheld and that the present trend is no guarantee against a future reversal of direction by the…

This is an investigation of relationships between characteristics of lawyers, psychiatrists, psychologists, and social workers and criteria employed in child custody legal proceedings. Findings reveal disciplinary distinctions, equity for mother and father, and influence from demographic variables regarding preference for criteria to be applied…

Academic freedom, federal regulation, and government interference are examined and put into historical perspective. Objective and practical suggestions are offered for improving the way regulations are written and enforced. (Editor/LBH)

As distance learning expands, so do copyright issues. Law provides little guidance on how use of distance learning materials may violate copyright laws. A year after a White House task force called for redefinition of intellectual property rights, no legislation has been filed to clarify the widely ranging issues. Several New England states have…

Discusses unforeseen costs (including potential litigation expenses), benefits, and consequences of adopting security measures (such as metal detectors, drug dogs, security cameras, campus police, dress codes, crime watch programs, and communication devices) to counter on-campus violence and gang activity. High-tech gadgetry alone is insufficient.…

A legal approach to due process in cases of college student cheating is outlined. Issues discussed include severity of the misconduct, need for informal vs. formal procedures, the due process paradigm as reflected in relevant court litigation, and steps in application of the paradigm (preliminary steps, notice and hearing procedures).(MSE)

The lower court findings and 1995 Supreme Court decision in Podberesky versus Kerwin, concerning the legality of race-exclusive scholarships, is reviewed and its implications on race-based financial aid awards are examined. Issues discussed include current Department of Education guidelines in this context, meeting institutional mandates to…

Analyzes 240 First Amendment cases involving school administrator dismissals, focusing on each administrator's (alleged) behavior or situation leading to the court's decision. These cases disclose a substantial volume of behavior that is inexcusable, outrageous, self-destructive, and embarrassing. Many accounts illustrate the stress, ambiguities,…

Examines the current status of religion in education and considers the implications for policy making and practice. Frames the discussion by reviewing recent Pennsylvania and New York cases that challenged educational policy concerning outcomes-based education and the Kirjas Joel Hasidic sect, respectively. Proposes a "moderate…

Because team physicians generally establish athletes' medical eligibility requirements, they must understand the legal implications of recommending against sports participation. The paper presents recent court cases reflecting a split decision regarding the legality of excluding athletes whose conditions, in the physicians' opinions, expose them…

Examines a recent decision by the Sixth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in "Montgomery v. Carr," which determined whether the law permits a school board to have an antinepotism or conflict-of-interest policy that prohibits spouses, parents, and children from working in the same school or district. The court found that the school district…

This article describes how parent representatives can effectively prepare for and conduct due process hearings as required under Public Law 94-142 when conflict resolution efforts fail. Key terms involved in the legislation are discussed, as are applications of the Attorney's Fee Act to minimize the financial burden involved in such litigation.…