Elite Colleges Bring Elite Anxiety
By Matthew Tresaugue, Houston Chronicle

These days, competition to get into a brand-name institution is so intense that desperate students apply to 10, 12 and even 20 schools. Twelve percent of students entering college last fall applied to seven or more schools, according to a survey by the University of California at Los Angeles.

Project Wants More Talk About Education
By Jim Kuhnhenn, The Associated Press

Two of the world's wealthiest charitable foundations are bankrolling a $60 million initiative aimed at making education an issue in the 2008 presidential campaign.

A Boom for DC Charter Schools
By V. Bion Haynes and Theola Labbe, The Washington Post

In a rapidly shifting educational landscape, at least a dozen charter schools that opened a few years ago in church basements or vacant shops are pursuing state-of-the-art campuses, a sign that the city's once-fledgling charter movement is maturing. The schools are popular even though the vast majority of them failed to meet federal academic targets last year.

Higher Graduation Rates in City, But 'More Work to Do'
By David Herszenhorn, The New York Times

Half of New York City's high school students graduated on time in June 2006, up from 47 percent the year before, according to figures released yesterday by the New York State Education Department. The figures also showed that statewide, the four-year high school graduation rate barely budged, rising to 67 percent from 66 percent.

Colleges Expect 20 percent Rise in Hiring
By Jana Von Bergen, The Philadelphia Inquirer

College career directors are reporting record numbers of recruiters on campus. Job offers are up, and companies are saying they'll bring on nearly 20 percent more new graduates than they did last year.

Housing Holds Back Moms in College
By Marilyn Gardner, The Christian Science Monitor

To live independently, single mothers need an education. But to get one, they also need a place to live and child care – needs that colleges are waking up to.

The 'Family Friendly' Competition
Scott Jaschick, InsideHigherEd

In the last week, both Stanford and Yale Universities have announced significant expansions of the help that they provide to new parents - with Stanford unveiling a plan for junior faculty members and Yale one for graduate students.

Student Lender Discloses Ties to Colleges That Included Gifts to Officials
By Sam Dillon, The New York Times

Nelnet, a major student loan company offered a broad accounting of many often unpublicized relationships it has established with universities and their senior officials, including managing telephone call centers, paying college officials for speaking engagements and giving plane tickets to financial aid officers.

Affirmative Action Admits Tend to be More Successful than Legacy Admits, Says Study
By Shilpa Banerji, Diverse Issues in Higher Education

Researchers at Princeton University have found that students who received legacy admissions are more likely to face academic challenges than Blacks who were admitted under affirmative action admissions programs.

Students Lose Millions in Loan Scam
By Nick Lawrence and Anushka Asthana, The Guardian

A government-backed student loan scheme has been targeted by fraudsters, leaving victims with no tuition and debts totalling millions of pounds.
Now the powerful all-party parliamentary education committee is to investigate how the government failed to vet companies registered for the Career Development Loan (CDL) scheme, allowing criminals and failing businesses to profit at the expense of students.

Fewer Young Scots Apply for Places at University
By Andrew Denholm, The Herald

The number of young Scots applying to universities has fallen by more than 1000 over the past five years, prompting fears for the future of the sector and the country's knowledge economy.

Saudi Set to Develop Education System
By Habib Shaikh, Khaleej Times

Saudi Arabia is working on a 25-year strategy to develop the Kingdom’s higher education system in tune with the country’s development and job market requirements.

Student Strike Stretches Two Weeks
By Haviv Rettig, The Jerusalem Post

Students continued their two-week-old strike on Wednesday and were preparing to hold a mass demonstration in Tel Aviv later in the day. The Committee of University Presidents has threatened that the universities will extend the second semester and refuse to give passing grades to striking students.

BC Students Converge on Legislature to Demand Action on Adult Education Tuition Fees
CNW Group

Students from across BC met with 61 Members of the Legislative Assembly this week to discuss the economic and social benefits of eliminating adult basic education fees, a
policy change that would help 30,000 students in BC.

Students In London Win With New Higher Learning Investment
CNW Group

Postsecondary students in London will enjoy an even higher quality education thanks to a new McGuinty government
investment to support quality improvements at The University of Western Ontario and Fanshawe College, said Khalil Ramal, MPP London-Fanshawe, and Deb Matthews, MPP London North Centre.

Alberta Budget Promises Record $33B in Spending
CBC News

The Alberta government is spending a record $33 billion this year - pumping billions into schools, roads and health care - and still expecting a $2 billion surplus.

Ontario Med Students and Residents Call for Programs Available in Other Provinces
CNW Group

The Ontario Medical Association (OMA), Ontario Medical Student Association (OMSA) and the Professional Association of
Internes and Residents of Ontario (PAIRO) are calling on the provincial government to help new doctors in Ontario by deferring payment and interest
accrual on student loans until after residency training is completed.

$65M to Improve Postsecondary Education for First Nations
By Jeff Rud, Times Colonist

The provincial government launched a $65-million program Tuesday designed to narrow the gap between aboriginals and other British Columbians when it comes to post-secondary education.

CAMPUS 2020: Thinking Ahead
BC Council on Admissions and Transfer

The report, entitled Access and Excellence: The Campus 2020 Plan for British Columbia’s Post-Secondary Education System, makes 52 recommendations to government on how to build on the strengths of British Columbia's existing system of higher education. The final Campus 2020 report is the result of five months of consultation, with visits to 18 communities across the province and more than 200 written or electronic submissions. About 900 people took part in regional sessions and 160 representatives from post-secondary institutions and agencies, government, business, student, Aboriginal, multi-cultural, community, and labour groups participated in a provincial symposium.

The Educational Policy Institute is an international non-profit think tank dedicated to the study of educational opportunity. The Week in Review is a weekly publication that highlights the top news stories, reports and statistics related to academic preparation and access and success in the US, Canada, and beyond. The publication also features a commentary written by either President Watson Scott Swail, EdD or Vice-President Alex Usher.

To submit comments, news releases, or submissions, please email Dr. Watson Scott Swail at wswail@educationalpolicy.org or call (757) 430-2200.