State policy

Debate over Madison's possible separation from U. of Wisconsin system spotlights national tensions among states, systems and flagship institutions.

Career colleges shoot down plan to cut awards to their students, but new restriction would limit funds going to institutions with high loan default rates.

A Texas community college decides to risk losing some state funds by forcing students to register on time — with goal of improving completion rates.

As state budget deliberations unfold across the country, community colleges in some states appear to have been cushioned from the worst, facing cuts that — at least on the surface — are less severe than those to their four-year counterparts.

In accord with governor, U. of Oregon delays push for autonomy, but clash over governance remains in the offing.

WASHINGTON -- The Education Department did not go nearly as far as college leaders would have liked in backing away from a new rule requiring colleges to get approval from every state in which they operate distance education programs.

In states where guns may soon be allowed on campuses, students on both sides want to be part of the debate.

Restricted Internet access and inadequate government funding hinder postsecondary programs in prisons and increase recidivism, report says.

California considers letting campuses set much higher tuition rate for some programs. Would shift help wealthier students, make the colleges more competitive with for-profits, or both?

Hearing that the University of California system had $2.5 billion in “unrestricted net assets” on hand in 2010 could make anyone question the necessity of the 32 percent tuition hike that has been proposed, or the 11 to 26 furlough days that more than 100,000 employees were forced to take in 2009.