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The characteristics of U.S. colleges and universities with high proportions of minority group students (historically black colleges and universities, tribal colleges, and Hispanic-serving institutions) are examined, the distinctive needs and circumstances of their student populations are discussed, and the unique barriers faced by each group in pursuing higher education are noted. Outlooks for the future are explored. (MSE)

It's always fun to ride the crest of a wave. As one of the first writers at Black Issues In Higher Education, the author quickly realized the publication had impeccable dining, covering diversity and minority-serving colleges just as these issues--and new organizations interested in these topics--rose to the forefront of the public-policy arena. And best of all, Black Issues did the investigating to an extent not seen in other press coverage of higher education at the time. The author shares a personal account of the history of Black Issues In Higher Education.

Interview with Education Secretary Lauro Cavazos. Responds to his critics who claim that he has not accomplished what he set out to do and expands on some of his administration's proposals and stances. (JS)

Date and acquaintance rape may be more prevalent on college campuses than in other environments, and colleges are struggling to confront the issue. Sexism and racism contribute to underreporting of and misconceptions about sexual abuse in college settings. Policies, programs, and procedures for combating sexual assaults on campus are recommended. (AF)

Discusses the failure of National Health Service Corps (NHSC) programs to attract and retain minority medical students. Cites the program's failure to place minority graduates in appropriate urban settings. Includes statistical data on minority medical school applicants, enrollment, and graduates. (FMW)

The economic stagnation and decline of Hispanic Americans during the 1980s was tied to their lower levels of educational attainment, according to "The Decade of the Hispanic: A Sobering Economic Retrospective," a study by the National Council of La Raza. The high female dropout rate and tracking inequities are discussed. (FMW)

Discusses the differences in educational environment between historically Black colleges and universities (HBCU) and predominately White institutions. Emphasizes the following issues: (1) individualized attention; (2) educational outcomes; (3) admission standards; and (4) racism. (FMW)

Climate has long been related to geographical differences in the distribution and diversity of life. What has eluded explanation is why this should be so. One emerging possibility is biological relativity to water–energy dynamics: the relative nature of biotic dynamics to changes in energy/matter conditions caused by changes in water (all states) while doing work, especially liquid water. The dynamic parameters involved – liquid water and optimal energy conditions – are independent of life, and have been shown to provide a simple, globally predictive explanation for co-variation between climate and the species richness of woody plants. Here I elaborate on what I mean by ‘biological relativity to water–energy dynamics’ and how it should relate to the geography and evolution of life in general (terrestrial, subterranean, marine/aquatic biota). Working through a natural hierarchy of physical, geographical, ecological and biological first principles, I outline the hierarchical, abiotic → biotic conceptual framework within which this idea operates. The implications of this idea include the following. First, the biosphere is better conceptualized as a ‘subsphere’ of the liquid hydrosphere – a system within a system, wherein ‘life’ has all the unique physical properties of liquid water, plus unique emergent properties of its own. Second, the fundamental capacity for life to exist and be dynamic in all biotic systems is determined by the abiotic capacity for liquid water to exist and be dynamic, which is always relative to the capacity for water–energy dynamics in general. Third, liquid water–energy dynamics acts as a fundamental mechanism of evolution, while being a constant mechanism of natural selection. Fourth, over space and time, there should be first-order predictable and/or systematic differences in the capacity for, operation and outcomes of, biotic dynamics globally (e.g. species richness), that necessarily dissolve into apparent chaos locally. Fifth, biological relativity to water–energy dynamics provides a fundamental and natural framework for operationalizing hierarchy theory and developing trans-scalar explanations for the geography and evolution of life's diversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Describes a successful remedial calculus program targeted at Black and Hispanic students at the University of California at Berkeley designed to resemble an honors program that has been replicated at three other institutions. The program emphasizes collaborative study. (FMW)

According to a report published by a University of Chicago political science professor, the Reagan Administration attempted to dismantle the Department of Education's Office of Civil Rights (OCR). Dr. Gary Orfield argues that during the Reagan presidency, OCR removed the threat of any enforcement of civil rights in higher education. (AF)

College personnel professionals use a variety of strategies to recruit and retain minority group students. The following programs and approaches are described: (1) student monitoring; (2) faculty mentoring; (3) referral for tutoring and remediation; (4) encouragement of participation in minority student activities; (5) peer mentoring; (6) early precollege recruitment; (7) parent involvement; and (8) institutional commitment. (AF)

Discusses the Seventh Annual Status Report: Minorities in Higher Education. The findings indicate that there has been a decline in the number of Black males attending college from 1976 to 1986. Factors that may have influenced this decline and areas for further consideration are presented. (JS)

Examines results from this year's American College Testing (ACT) program and the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT). There has been little change the past year in minority student scores. While average minority student scores fell by at least .1 point from last year, all minority groups have experiences long-term gains. (DF)

Examines a report by the Project on the Status and Education of Women. Black women face sexual and racial discrimination on college campuses. Isolation, invisibility, hostility, indifference, and a lack of understanding of Black women's experiences are part of the problem. (DF)

Recent studies at the macro-scale have demonstrated that geographic gradients in the richness of plants, in particular of woody plants such as trees and shrubs, can be viewed as by-products of water-energy dynamics. According to this view, they are climatic rather than latitudinal/longitudinal gradients, relating to coincident and predictable variations in planetary surface-atmosphere thermal dynamics and consequent patterns in biological activity. Previous analyses have shown that a two-variable model capturing the dynamic relationship between energy (heat/light) and water (rainfall) accounts for most of the variation in woody plant richness across southern Africa at species, genus, and family levels. Here we move towards a more complete explanation, while demonstrating how geographic analysis of residuals can be used to identify the type and sequence of additional variables for inclusion, either at the same or at more discrete scales of analysis. Residual geographic variation in richness from the two-variable model displays a geographic pattern unrelated to longitude and latitude. Regional clusters of under- and over-prediction point to macro-scale variation in topographic relief as a significant factor. When topographic relief is added as a third variable, the explanatory power (R2) increases by 7 to 12%, and the subsequent pattern of variation in residuals becomes even more unpredictable. What clustering remains points to other macro-, and meso- or micro-scale variables that need to be considered. Such a top-down, trans-scalar approach permits systematic and objective development of more complete explanations, while the three-variable macro-scale model developed herein is the basis for a powerful research tool for ecologists, biogeographers, conservationists and bio-climatologists alike. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]