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The article discusses the importance of reforming fraternities that are growing in popularity in the United States but have gained a bad reputation of excessive alcohol drinking that could lead to injuries, death, and even incapacitated sexual assault on women.

The article reports that the endowments of both Harvard University and Yale University fell 30% in value during the year ending in June, 2009. Both institutions were hurt by investments in relatively illiquid assets such as private-equity partnerships. Budget reductions and delays in capital spending have followed in the wake of the losses.

The article discusses 2008 scholastic-aptitude-test (SAT) results for U.S. high school students. Average test scores for critical reading and writing declined slightly, while those for math stayed constant. The gap between the scores of some minorities and both Asians and white students widened. Chester E. Finn of the Thomas B. Fordham Institute said the results were disappointing.

The article reports that the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has expressed concern over a promotion by Anheuser-Busch InBev NV that involves the sale of beer in cans bearing the colors of U.S. college athletic teams. FTC official Janet Evans said her organization thought the campaign could serve to promote underaged drinking.

The article discusses a marketing campaign by Anheuser-Busch that involves the sale of beer sold in cans bearing the colors of local college football teams. The University of Michigan and Boston College are among schools that have requested Anheuser not sell the cans in their vicinity. Anheuser says it will honor all such formal complaints.

The article discusses the finances of Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art. Unlike many other colleges whose endowments have been ravaged by an ongoing financial crisis, Cooper Union is in sound financial shape. Before the crisis hit the school hedged against a stock market decline, sold property at good prices, and raised cash.

The article discusses the "data-driven" approach to education employed in the Montgomery County, Maryland public schools. A combination of real-time data, frequent student assessments, and information technology makes possible the steady monitoring of a student's progress, and timely intervention when necessary. Under the regime, scores on Advanced Placement (AP) tests have risen.

The article discusses a report from the National Association for College Admission Counseling that finds negligible benefit from preparation courses for the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT). Courses run by firms such as Kaplan and Princeton Review were determined to increase SAT scores by an average of 30 points.

The article discusses controversy over plans by financially struggling colleges and universities in the U.S. to sell assets that have been funded by benefactors. Trinity College in Connecticut is being investigated by federal authorities over its intention to spend a portion of an endowment from investor Shelby Cullom Davis. Brandeis University's intention to sell art work has provoked opposition.

The article discusses questions surrounding Danny Pang, chief executive of Private Equity Management Group Inc. Although Pang claims to have an M.B.A. degree and to have previously worked for Morgan Stanley, neither claim can be verified. A former president of Private Equity alleges Pang once told him that the business involved a Ponzi scheme.

The article discusses the performance of fourth- and eighth-grade students in the U.S. on an international mathematics and science exam. Although U.S. students showed improvement in math, they still trail several Asian countries. Critics contested U.S. Education Secretary Margaret Spellings' assertion that the results argued for the effectiveness of president George W. Bush's No Child Left Behind legislation.

The article reports that Harvard University's endowment fund, valued at almost $37 billion at the end of June, 2008, has lost at least $8 billion since then. That figure does not include possible losses on difficult-to-value investments. The University anticipates a 30% decline for the fiscal year ending in June, 2009.

The article reports that several chief executives of corporations hurt severely by ongoing financial volatility reaped over $100 million apiece in compensation during the five years leading up to the crisis. Lloyd C. Blankfein of Goldman Sachs received over $130 million, and Angelo R. Mozilo of Countrywide Financial was paid in excess of $470 million.

The article discusses the impact on small banks in the U.S. of financial turmoil at Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Many invested in preferred shares of Fannie and Freddie, which have plummeted in value. State of Franklin Bancshares Inc. of Johnson CIty, Tennessee was forced to sell itself to another institution in the aftermath of losses on its Fannie and Freddie holdings.

The article advises that college applicants exercise discretion with what they post on their Web pages at social-networking sites such as Facebook and MySpace. A survey of 500 colleges indicated that 10% of admissions officers have viewed applicants' Web pages. Those seeking college admission should avoid posting offensive language and critical comments about schools they have applied to.

The article discusses results of the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) taken by the U.S. high school class of 2008. The average score on the math section was the lowest since 2001, and reading scores for both 2007 and 2008 reached lows not seen since 1994. The average critical reading score for African-Americans was 72 points below the general population's. Girls scored higher than boys in writing.

The article discusses a trend among publishers to produce books with violent, gory, or just plain gross content in an effort to appeal to young male readers. "Vlad the Impaler" from Scholastic Corp. is a popular title, and Capstone Press plans a fall, 2008 release for"Getting to Know Your Toilet: The Disgusting Story Behind Your Home's Strangest Feature."

The article reports that, in an effort to stem cheating, administrators of the Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT) will require that applicants confirm their identity by submitting to a palm vein scan. The Graduate Management Admissions Council won't comment on the scope of cheating. Fujitsu Ltd. manufactures the scanners to be used.

The article reports a growing trend towards customization in U.S. college textbooks. Customized texts include content aimed at students of a particular school. Such books cost more than traditional texts and are not as easily resold. Some schools share in the profits generated by custom texts. In some instances the customized portions have marginal value.

The article discusses recommendations expected to be forthcoming from the National Mathematics Advisory Panel, appointed by U.S. President George W. Bush in 2006 to evaluate mathematics education. Among proposals the panel is expected to put forth are a focus on arithmetic in early grades, and greater concentration on fewer topics.

The article reports the likelihood that students attending colleges & universities in the U.S. in the fall of 2008 will find it more difficult to obtain student loans. Lending firms such as College Loan Corp. and Nelnet Inc. have sharply curtailed their activity in the wake of investors' unwillingness to provide capital by purchasing their securities.

The article focuses on an increase in the number of special education experts and parents of special needs students in the U.S. that are accusing U.S. school systems, including the one in Greece, New York, of promoting the process of mainstreaming in an effort to keep their costs down. A discussion of a debate which exists in the educational community of the benefits of mainstreaming is presented.

The article focuses on a question being placed before the U.S. Supreme Court on October 1, 2007. The court will be asked to give its opinion on when and if parents of special needs students should give public schools a chance before having taxpayers reimburse them for private school tuition. A discussion of the impact the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, and the impact a decision from the Supreme Court could have on the education of students with disabilities, is presented.

The article focuses on a report which was released from the U.S. National Assessment of Educational Progress, which is administered by the U.S. Department of Education. The report showed an increase in math and reading achievement among U.S fourth and eighth grader from 2005 to 2007, that an achievement gap between the scores of white and minority students exists, and since the 2001 No Child Left Behind Act eighth grade math scores have improved but reading scores have declined.

The article reports on a nonprofit organization called Center for Excellence in Higher Education, which has been launched by several philanthropists, including Bernard Marcus, the founder of Home Depot, and John Templeton, which will advise college alumni that are planning to donate to their alma maters on how to attach legally enforceable conditions to their gifts.

The article reports on an increase in the number of U.S. parents with learning disabled students that are claiming that their students are graduating too easily due to federal laws which raised school standards but also left loopholes which allowed the students to get help in passing tests. Parents feel that the loophole does not allow the students the ability to gain the skills they need.

The article focuses on an increase in criticism the practice of mainstreaming special education students is receiving in the U.S., especially among teachers. The criticism stems from a belief among parents and educators that mainstreaned students get better treatment than others in classrooms. A discussion of the impact the criticism has had on employee turnover in the teaching field is presented.

The article focuses on a report, which was released June 14, 2007 from the office of U.S. Senator Edward Kennedy, which detailed the marketing practices, often illegal or unethical, of companies that make government backed student loans. The report focused on perks which lenders gave to financial aid officials in return for their being featured on their preferred lender lists.

The article reports on the impact close ties seen in 2003 between members of the financial aid industry and members of the U.S. Education Department including Sally Stroup, former assistant secretary at the department may have had on a 2007 scandal involving finance companies that paid U.S. colleges and universities to have their names placed on the schools' preferred lender lists.

The article focuses on an expansion of an investigation being conducted by New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo. The investigation centers on companies including CIT Group Inc. that allegedly illegally payed colleges and universities including Columbia University and the University of Texas to place their names on the schools' preferred lender lists. The lists are presented to college applicants that are seeking financing for their education.

The article reports on increased government scrutiny which is being placed on U.S. financial firms which offer college loans to students. The scrutiny comes as a result of corrupt behavior which has been seen within the firms. Many firms including Education Finance Partners Inc. have been accused of being involved with kickback schemes with colleges and universities. The companies have allegedly been paying schools to have their names on the schools' preferred lender lists.

The article reports on plans which have been proposed by the U.S. Congress in 2007 to make attending college in the U.S. more affordable. Several plans which Congress is planning to implement, including increasing the maximum Pell Grant low income families can receive, cutting rates on certain Stafford loans, and disclosing hidden relationships between colleges and private lenders, are discussed.

The article reports on a $125 million grant from Exxon Mobil which was given to the National Math and Science Initiative. The initiative is a nonprofit organization that will fund two nationwide programs. One program will be to train teachers, and the other is one that has been developed to prompt an increase in the number of U.S. students who pass Advanced Placement tests in math, science, and English. It hopes to prompt the increase by paying students who pass the exams between $100 and $500.

The article presents a report on Stanford University's president John L. Hennessy. Hennessy is reported to have made $1 million in November 2006, mostly from stock options and income generated from the corporate boards of which he is a member. Hennessy has a long-standing relationship with the high tech industry that supplies him and the university with an income stream that is unprecedented.

This article describes the version of quidditch created by students at Middlebury College in Vermont and played as an intramural competition. Quidditch is the sport described in J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter novels that involves chasing a golden snitch on flying brooms. The Middlebury students holding brooms between their legs chase another student and attempt to retrieve a tennis ball from him. College students have always looked for alternative games to the popular ones of football, basketball and more.

The article describes clinical trials that found potential adverse effects of the anti-anemia drug erythropoietin that is used to treat chronic kidney disease. Researchers focused on pre-dialysis patients and the use of the drug to aggressively increase production of red blood cells and hemoglobin. One study found an increased risk of heart failure linked with erythropoietin, while another noted an acceleration in the need for dialysis brought on by the use of the drug.

The article reports that California securities regulators are looking into the claims of Pinnacle Development Partners, which runs ads promising big returns on investments in foreclosed real estate. Investigations have revealed that the only property buyers are located at Pinnacle, suggesting the company may be running a Ponzi scheme in which older investors are paid using new investors' money.

This article reports on a new report from the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics which advises schools to focus heavily and early on teaching fundamentals such as multiplication tables and long division. These recommendations go against the teaching method for the past 17 years that promotes open-ended problem solving and the use of calculators. Parents and colleges have complained about the approach and the poor math skills of the students. Many U.S. schools use the Singapore method of teaching basic math skills.

The article discusses the increase in education-based summer camps for students. Parents spent $280 million to send 120,000 children to academic camps in the summer of 2005. The article focuses on MathPath, a math camp located in northern California that only selects highly qualified students to participate in its program. Many of the participants are children of highly-educated immigrants who are from countries that do not share the United States' idea of a leisurely summer.

The article features an interview with Shirley Tilghman, Princeton University's president. She talks about how Princeton has adapted to the needs of working parents. She would like to change Princeton's eating clubs, which she sees as somewhat exclusive and contrary to the spirit of the school. She responds to questions concerning elitism at Princeton in terms of the affluence of the student body. She also discusses Princeton's initiative to increase undergraduate admissions.

This article looks at the new breed of philanthropists who are giving away fortunes before they die to foundations like the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The current generation of the wealthiest Americans are increasingly realizing that if they make donations now they can have some control over its use and demand accountability from the programs they fund. Warren Buffett, Eli Broad, Charles Bronfman and Sanford Weill typify this new breed of philanthropists.

This article discusses the allegations of impropriety leveled at Friendly's Restaurant chairman Donald N. Smith by Friendly's founder, S. Priestly Blake. Blake, who founded the restaurant chain in 1935, still owns 10% of Friendly's stock, and has sued Smith on behalf of Friendly's regarding the $8 million Smith charged to Friendly's for usage of a Learjet. Smith is also the chairman of Perkins restaurants, which Blake sees as a conflict of interest.

The article focuses on investigations into the stock-option granting practices of U.S. corporations being launched in both the public and private sectors. Many companies under investigation are described and discussed, including semiconductor manufacturer KLA-Tencor Corp., networking and security firm Juniper Networks Inc. and Trident Microsystems Inc.

The article reports that Vitesse Semiconductor Corp. fired three top managers, including its chief executive officer Louis Tomasetta, as the results of a stock-options scandal. The firings come in the wake of a Securities and Exchange Commission investigation that suggests the company's employees improperly backdated stock options for monetary gain.

This article reports on a law enacted by legislators in Massachusetts that requires all citizens of the state to buy medical insurance. In addition, businesses that do not offer health care for employees will pay penalties to defray the cost of covering the uninsured. Businesses in the state fear the higher costs this bill will entail. Governor Mitt Romney has indicated that he will sign the legislation.

The article reports that laptop computers are leaving companies open to data theft. Easily portable, the computers are just as easily lost of stolen, leading to incidents like the one at Fidelity Investments where a laptop containing the Social Security numbers and personal information of 1960,000 Hewlett-Packard employees was stolen. Encryption could prevent data security problems, but few companies use it as much as they should.

The article reports that a number of guidance counselors and college test-prep services in the United States are urging test takers to pay extra for backup test scoring services in the wake of recent grading errors that wrongly lowered the SAT scores of thousands of students. The author reviews the various fees being charged by various scoring outfits. Comments regarding the issue from various school officials are included.

The article reports on the controversy between Princeton University president Shirley M. Tilghman and the Robertson's family, the school's biggest donor. The author reviews how the family complained for years about what they perceived as Princeton's failure to use the money for its intended purpose of training foreign policy graduate students. Details of the lawsuit filed against Princeton by the Robertson's are reviewed.

The article reports that investments placed Stanford University at number three on the list of the best endowed universities in the country, following only Harvard and Yale. Investments in Silicon Valley and large stakes in Google helped the university boost its endowment to $12.21 billion for 2005. Good investments and alumni gifts grew the endowments of all elite universities, leading to fears that these wealthy schools would far outpace the majority of their less-renowned rivals. INSETS: Academic Treasure;Investment Excellence.

The article reports on the enormous endowments some universities have and why the institutions are not spending more of their money. Critics says that universities like Harvard, with a $26 billion endowment, should spend some of the money on scholarships and expanding enrollment. Most schools draw only around 5% of their endowment annually.