Feature

The U.S. economy is built on brainpower. Its growth is not driven by class or wealth, but by the ability of its citizens to create, innovate, and improve products and services. It is a knowledge economy, and the key to success in a knowledge economy is the higher education system. Historically, U.S. institutions of higher education have served as a magnet for the global creative class, and for years we've been assured of our leadership in attracting the world's best and brightest minds.

Malware is out there, in cyberspace, and ready to make a home on your network's computers. Malware, the catchall description for spyware, viruses, worms, and other IT nemeses, can do expensive and time-consuming damage to a campus system. Are you doing all you can to protect your IT assets?

At Boston College, "You Make It Happen." Or, at least that's the theme dominating the alumni fund's 2005 e-mail campaign, with each edition pairing an alumnus who has given a small amount each year with a researcher at the school who has made an important contribution to his or her field.

"The concept is that unrestricted money that alums give allows flexibility to the university to use it wherever it's needed," says Christine Sanni, executive director of Advancement, Communications, and Marketing at the school.

Joining Independent 529 Plan, the only national 529 plan organized and run by and for independent colleges and universities, is a significant and complex decision because of the financial and operational ramifications. Participating institutions assume the investment risk by locking in tuition payment at a discount from the rates in effect when deposits are made, and the colleges assume all administrative fees. Given these current and future financial obligations, why did we at Mount Holyoke College (Mass.) consider the plan at all?