Graduate students

Gains by female, minority and American students led to 4.5% increase in those starting programs in fall of 2008.

A five-year-old program at the University of Texas at Austin pairs undergraduates considering graduate school with graduate students -- and seems to be working.

Analysis of key effort to change doctoral programs offers insights into how they can cut time to degree and help grads land tenure-track jobs, and challenges assumptions on gender and what happens to those who leave programs.

Figures for first-time students who are from the U.S. are up 6 percent; new international numbers are flat, with significant variation by country.

The Graduate Employees Organization walks out as contract negotiations hit a snag. Students say tuition waivers are threatened; administrators say they plan no changes.

U.S. universities record fifth straight year of increase in number of degrees awarded. Gains come mostly in sciences and among non-U.S. citizens; humanities Ph.D.'s decline 4.5 percent.

1.4 percent increase in number of degrees awarded in 2008 is smallest since 2003; growth in biology doctorates accounts for most of the uptick, and humanities continue to dip.

At history meeting, grad students and those who lead doctoral programs consider bleak job market, quality of graduate programs, and consider whether there is an "oversupply" issue.

U. of Wisconsin says collective bargaining could endanger international students' visas -- a stance that organizers see as a scare tactic.