A survey of 790 blind and visually impaired persons in Arkansas assessed their use of technological assistive devices and their unmet needs, focusing on life functioning, spending practices and credit options for purchasing devices, funding support systems, travel practices, information sources, and satisfaction with services and devices.…

Describes activities of the 1991 American Library Association (ALA) Annual Conference. Topics discussed include federal legislation; Israeli censorship and Palestinian library closings in the occupied territories; intellectual freedom; library services to an aging population; cultural diversity; children's rights; video copyright; access services;…

During the 1970s, the Hong Kong government declared elementary and lower secondary schooling to be free and compulsory and increased funding at all levels. Analysis of census data on birth cohorts in their upper teens in 1971-86 found increasing educational attainment over time and decreasing effects on educational attainment of parent income and…

Examines a number of trends in higher education that threaten to undermine the status, role, and even existence of liberal arts colleges. Looks at competitive marketing, merit-based student financial aid, private support for state schools, and the heavy influence of price on student choice. Keeping these factors in mind can allow universities to…

Highlights findings and recommendations of research examining public policy in housing, health care, higher education, and transportation, and how these policies can be applied to improve early childhood financing and systems. Stresses goal of universal access for early childhood programs through financial stability in forming business alliances,…

Explores issues related to state support for cultural identity schools, schools with educational practices and aims designed to reinforce a particular cultural identity. Drawing a distinction between "strong" and "moderate" cultural identity schools, the article considers contextual factors a liberal state may consider in the legitimate support of…

Provides an overview of the rationale behind the World Bank credit line to Nigerian universities and examines the impact of the credit facility on the information demand and supply in the University of Agriculture, Makurdi Library (Nigeria). Discusses problems, such as poor quantity and quality of books and journals, lack of equipment, and lack of…

Summarizes the characteristics of graduate programs and departments in psychology throughout the United States and Canada during the 1992-93 academic year, and compares them with those of the 1970-71 and 1979-80 academic years. The discussion centers on differences between master's-only and doctoral departments in psychology and pivotal trends in…

Argues that Mississippi has used every effort to block the higher education aspirations of its black citizens and describes the state's latest effort that involves setting higher admissions standards at the state's predominantly black universities. The history of unequal funding of higher education in the state is highlighted, as well as political…

Discusses problems American Indian students encounter in large universities, including financial concerns, communication problems, isolation, and prejudice. Suggests that students who go to tribal colleges first complete more classes on schedule and have a better overall grade point average than those who go directly to universities. (NB)

Describes CBUC (The Consortium of Academic Libraries of Catalonia) (Spain) that includes eight universities and the state library. Highlights include structure; funding; programs for increasing document accessibility, including the collective Web-based catalog and interlibrary loans; the Digital Library of Catalonia; and programs for facilitating…

Describes a study of two community colleges and ten community college administrators to determine whether federal policies had influence on these institutions. Proposes a new policy framework, based on the findings, with five dimensions: (1) federal research support; (2) federal tax laws; (3) federal student financial aid; (4) funded mandates; and…

Discusses a 50-state survey by the National Council for Continuing Education regarding the issue of funding for noncredit courses in community colleges. Reports that 17 states include noncredit courses for funding on an FTE basis, and that no states fund hobby, avocational, or recreation non-credit classes. Argues that lifelong learning is a…

Students in Australia are entering the sex industry as a pragmatic response to increasing education costs and a reduction in government income support. This paper examines the lived experiences of a group of 40 young women, all post-secondary education students, working in the Melbourne sex industry. Their experiences suggest that while the…

The Freedom to Learn (FTL) program is a statewide initiative coordinated by the Michigan Department of Education and Ferris State University in Big Rapids. Now beginning its third year, the program targets underperforming middle schools in 100 of the state's 500 districts. More than 23,000 students and 1,500 teachers have been issued HP nx9010…