Students.

Educational consumerism continues to be the major focus of litigation involving students. Disputes over admissions practices, grades, academic terminations, and financial aid comprised the largest proportion of cases reported this year. The section on academic affairs is the largest single section. As the job market gets tighter and the cost of education continues to increase, students' interests seem to be shifting from issues of due process and demonstrations to economic concerns. Within the framework of these consumer issues, a large number of cases have arisen at the graduate and professional school level. The proliferation of federal and state laws affecting higher education has also given rise to a relatively new area of litigation as institutions and students challenge regulations administered by bureaucratic agencies. (Author/IRT)