Flagship publics

Spending on colleges grew 7.5% for 2008, the largest percentage hike in a decade, but deficits in many states suggest tighter years are ahead. New California budget plan worries educators.

Divide between the two kinds of financial aid is less clearcut than many think, according to new study of public flagship universities.

Long criticized for providing too little information about their prices and performance, college groups are now pouring (often overlapping) information onto the Internet.

University of Illinois proposes seeking independent accreditation for its underperforming Global Campus unit in effort to gain flexibility and expand offerings.

President of SUNY's Buffalo State College becomes first minority leader of one of Washington's six major higher education associations.

Questions about administrative growth, use of resources, "corporatization," and shared governance are at root of faculty-administration conflicts.

Arizona regent floats idea of dealing with space and money crunch by creating programs in which students work through end of junior year at community college, and then pick up bachelor's after one year at a university.

New book finds large gaps in graduation rates at flagship universities, raising questions about how rates are measured, standardized tests, "mismatch" critique of affirmative action, community colleges, and more.

Faculty agreement to delay raises at Rutgers came with the realities of the recession and specific pledges on working conditions and financial transparency.