Short Subjects

A Canadian artist swaps her paintings for house-sitting gigs around the world at the homes of professors on sabbatical.

HELLO, RICHMOND: A Nashville music producer hops a plane every Sunday to teach a course at the University of Richmond on how popular music drove the civil-rights movement.

TRUE CRIME: Reports from campus police logs.

The Faculty

A new degree and licensing exam offers "doctors of nursing practice" more autonomy from physicians.

Historians, at their annual convention, found fewer openings.

• HOW TO LAND THAT HISTORY JOB: An interview checklist for applicants.

A college tracks the techiness of professors' teaching by their use of Blackboard.

The only historically black medical school west of the Mississippi lost its teaching hospital but plans an ambitious expansion nonetheless.

Financial intelligence starts with taking advantage of your college's retirement plan.

She thought her tormenters were gone forever, but now they may be coming back to town.

HARD DATA: Trends in the humanities, for the first time, are captured in a broad national report.

Research & Books

The late political scientist Samuel P. Huntington tackled the most important policy questions of his day, writes Aaron L. Friedberg.

In his latest book and television program, the historian Simon Schama argues that the traits that have defined the country's past also presage its future, writes Louis P. Masur.

PATENTING TEAM: The University of Pennsylvania and Arizona State University are joining forces on technology transfer in an experiment that will allow each to take advantage of the other's expertise in commercializing the findings of their researchers.

DISMAL FORECAST: At the annual meeting of the American Economic Association, attendees expressed fear that the United States may well be entering a long period of financial stagnation.

POSSIBLE NIH LEADER: Francis S. Collins, a former director of the National Human Genome Research Institute, may be in line to head the National Institutes of Health in the Obama administration.

Information Technology

A college tracks the techiness of professors' teaching by their use of Blackboard.

Information may want to be free, but communications giants and wary governments won't let it, writes Harry Lewis.

WINNERS IN SLUGGISH TIMES: An author of a Sloan Consortium survey says that the bad economy will be good for enrollment in online courses, especially at particular types of colleges.

COLLEGE CHANGES HANDS: A private-equity group has bought Northcentral University, an all-online institution with an enrollment of about 7,500, mostly in graduate-level degree programs.

Money & Management

Those familiar with the armed forces' national base-realignment process say colleges — community colleges in particular — will play a vital role in readying both communities and individuals for the change.

The only historically black medical school west of the Mississippi lost its teaching hospital but plans an ambitious expansion nonetheless.

A proposed biomass plant near Florida State University stirs controversy among nearby residents.

Financial analysts predict that very small, tuition-dependent colleges with modest endowments could close during this recession, but the president of such a college is counting on his institution's strengths to help it survive.

Much harder than leading a college is closing one.

GRIM FORECAST: A new annual-outlook report from Moody's Investors Service says that higher-education institutions are facing a range of challenges in the next year and a half.

FEAR OF COMMITMENT: In a volatile market for energy, colleges have to decide whether, and when, to lock in their prices.

BAD OMEN? In a move seen as a harbinger amid worsening economic conditions, struggling Dana College has stopped making retirement-fund contributions for its employees.

GRIM HORIZON: President Bush's first treasury secretary told a meeting of private-college presidents that the current recession with be both deeper and longer than previous ones.

COLLEGE CHANGES HANDS: A private-equity group has bought Northcentral University, an all-online institution with an enrollment of about 7,500, mostly in graduate-level degree programs.

TRANSCONTINENTAL JUMP: Drexel University, in Philadelphia, has opened a center for graduate studies in Sacramento, Calif.

Government & Politics

Annual state appropriations for higher education inched up by less than 1 percent for the 2009 fiscal year.

• DATA: How the states rank in appropriations to higher education, one-year changes in state appropriations, and reversal of a trend in state support.

Academic expertise is no ticket to a federal job in Washington. But in an Obama administration, it can't hurt.

A State Department program brings foreign students to the United States to study at community colleges.

Where would so many of us be without Claiborne Pell's "GI Bill for everybody"? asks Beth Macy.

• FAREWELL TO A GIANT: Sen. Claiborne Pell, who created a federal grant program for low-income students, died this month at the age of 90.

DEAN TO SOLICITOR GENERAL: President-elect Barack Obama has chosen Elena Kagan, dean of Harvard Law School, as his nominee for solicitor general.

ACADEMIC IS CIA PICK: Leon E. Panetta, a Washington insider turned academic, has been chosen to lead the Central Intelligence Agency under President-elect Barack Obama.

TRIMMING THE PORK: Spending bills for the 2010 fiscal year will contain half as many earmarks as those in 2006.

PROFESSOR GOES TO WASHINGTON: Pete Souza, an assistant professor of photojournalism at Ohio University's School of Visual Communication, has been chosen to serve as the chief White House photographer.

POSSIBLE NIH LEADER: Francis S. Collins, a former director of the National Human Genome Research Institute, may be in line to head the National Institutes of Health in the Obama administration.

TOP POLICY ISSUES IN 2009: The American Association of State Colleges and Universities has released its list of the top 10 state-policy issues that will affect higher education this year.

GRIM HORIZON: President Bush's first treasury secretary told a meeting of private-college presidents that the current recession with be both deeper and longer than previous ones.

Students

Economists examine why bright students from low-income families don't apply to select colleges.

An author discusses his new book about the Duke lacrosse scandal.

International

A State Department program brings foreign students to the United States to study at community colleges.

An international literary festival in Guadalajara should close the book on media stereotypes of our much-maligned neighbor, writes Carlin Romano.

HOW CLOSE ARE THE TIES? The Islamic University of Gaza makes no secret of its affiliation with Hamas, but students and lecturers deny Israel's assertions that it is a legitimate military target.

Commentary

Financial analysts predict that very small, tuition-dependent colleges with modest endowments could close during this recession, but the president of such a college is counting on his institution's strengths to help it survive.

An author discusses his new book about the Duke lacrosse scandal.

Much harder than leading a college is closing one.

Chronicle Careers

Financial intelligence starts with taking advantage of your college's retirement plan.

She thought her tormenters were gone forever, but now they may be coming back to town.

The Chronicle Review

In his latest book and television program, the historian Simon Schama argues that the traits that have defined the country's past also presage its future, writes Louis P. Masur.

Information may want to be free, but communications giants and wary governments won't let it, writes Harry Lewis.

The late political scientist Samuel P. Huntington tackled the most important policy questions of his day, writes Aaron L. Friedberg.

An international literary festival in Guadalajara should close the book on media stereotypes of our much-maligned neighbor, writes Carlin Romano.

Where would so many of us be without Claiborne Pell's "GI Bill for everybody"? asks Beth Macy.

THE ARTS & ACADEME: Music celebrates science; theater grapples with genocide; a documentary marches alongside Penn State's Blue Band; and a recent Yankees fielder shows his pluck at a conservatory.

NOTA BENE: One book traces the road to Sesame Street and another draws the connections between network TV and modern art.

Letters to the Editor

• 'An Unflattering Spotlight' on Frostburg State U.
• Cartoon by Christopher Burke

NEW SCHOLARLY BOOKS

THE CHRONICLE CROSSWORD