Notes in the Margins: Kline, elite colleges and commercialization

Representative Kline Eyes Way to Stop Rule Restricting For-Profit Colleges Kline, a Minnesota Republican who will become chairman of the education committee in January, said he would rather that nonprofit and for-profit colleges be required to disclose graduation rates, costs, and graduates’ debt burdens to all applicants. The so-called gainful employment rule is scheduled to go into effect in 2012, and Kline said he has been looking at ways of “stopping” it. (bloomberg.com)

Campus smoking restrictions debated Campus-wide smoking bans and restrictions have become standard at many colleges and universities in recent years. MCTC joins 22 other MNSCU colleges and universities that have implemented indoor and outdoor campus smoking policies. (citycollegenews.com)

Tax Bill With Benefits for Colleges and Students Heads to President's Desk The compromise measure would extend for two years a series of expiring tax breaks. (chronicle.com)

Some Checklists for Those Applying, or Already Decided Advice to help you keep your sanity and not alienate your parents or high school counselor.' (thechoice.blogs.nytimes.com)

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Elite Colleges Continue to Fill Slots Early At the University of Pennsylvania, Haverford and Johns Hopkins, more than a third of the seats in the forthcoming freshman class have already been assigned. (thechoice.blogs.nytimes.com)

American University's growth causes pains for neighboring businesses Like many other universities, American is also in the business of residential and commercial property management, owning buildings stretching from Massachusetts to Wisconsin avenues NW and north to the Tenleytown-AU Metrorail station. Residents and longtime patrons say one business' closure is proof that the university's plans for growth do not include many of the small and long-standing businesses that dot the surrounding neighborhoods. (The Washington Post)

8-Year Graduation Rates Not Much Higher Than 6-Year Rates, Data Show The release follows a report last week by The Chronicle of Higher Education showing that graduation rates dropped for one-third of four-year colleges from 2002 to 2008. (chronicle.com)

Despite Recession, Universities Report 'Rock Solid' Effort in Commercializing Inventions Participants in an annual survey signed more deals in 2009 than in 2008, and formed about as many spin-offs as they had the previous year. (chronicle.com)