The Review of Higher Education 23.2, Winter 2000 Contents Articles Focus on Race Focus on Students Review Essay Articles Birnbaum, Robert. Policy Scholars Are from Venus; Policy Makers Are from Mars Subjects: Education, Higher -- Research -- United States. Education, Higher -- Aims and objectives -- United States. Abstract: Policy scholarship and policy-making are, and ought to be, two distinct knowledge-producing activities whose insights may inform, but are not dependent on, each other. Criticisms that higher education scholarship is not valuable to practitioners is based on a misleading linear view of how social knowledge influences behavior. Policy interests are ultimately better served when scholars determine their own long-term research agendas, rather than attempt to respond to policy makers' current issues. Focus on Race Martínez Alemán, Ana M. Race Talks: Undergraduate Women of Color and Female Friendships Subjects: Minority college students -- Social networks -- United States. Women college students -- Social networks -- United States. Female friendship -- United States. Abstract: This qualitative study examines how race and/or ethnicity inform undergraduate female friendships and specifically how race and/or ethnicity imbue these relationships with the conditions of familiarity that have been deemed necessary for cognitive and developmental growth. This study found that racial and ethnic self-empowerment through "race talk" appears to be the primary cognitive operation in these peer relationships. Chang, Mitchell J. Improving Campus Racial Dynamics: A Balancing Act Among Competing Interests Subjects: United States -- Race relations. Interpersonal relations -- United States. Universities and colleges -- United States -- Sociological aspects. Abstract: While virtually all colleges and universities are attentive to improved racial dynamics, they often fail to examine how their racial endeavors are affected by or affect other institutional assumptions, values, ideals, expectations, or practices despite very frequent competition with other presumably opposing institutional interests. Although such conflicts are neither natural or stable, they have very real consequences that can potentially obstruct racial progress by neutralizing even the most promising efforts toward diversity. Focus on Students Berger, Joseph B. (Joseph Buryl), 1963- Organizational Behavior at Colleges and Student Outcomes: A New Perspective on College Impact Subjects: College students -- United States -- Conduct of life. Organizational behavior -- United States. Abstract: This study explores the relationship between the types of organizational behavior found at eight private colleges and two student outcomes--humanistic values and community service involvement. The findings from the analysis suggest a grounded theory describing the relationship between organizational behavior and student outcomes. Golde, Chris M. Should I Stay or Should I Go? Student Descriptions of the Doctoral Attrition Process Subjects: Graduate students -- United States -- Social conditions -- Case studies. Universities and colleges -- United States -- Graduate work -- Case studies. Abstract: Little is known about the process of doctoral student attrition. Relying on theories of socialization and integration, this paper examines the cases of three students who left their doctoral programs. Their experiences show that academic integration plays a greater role in attrition than social integration. Furthermore, the academic integration process can be ruptured, particularly when a student-advisor relationship ends. The paper also questions the idea that degree completion equals success and that attrition equals failure. Review Essay Johnstone, D. Bruce (Donald Bruce), 1941- The Special Ethicality of the Academy Subjects: Kennedy, Donald, 1931- Academic duty. Rosenzweig, Robert M. Political university. O'Brien, Dennis, 1931- All the essential half-truths about higher education. Education, Higher -- Aims and objectives -- United States. Higher education and state -- United States. Abstract: Drawing on the recent works of Donald Kennedy, Robert Rosenzweig, and George Dennis O'Brian, Johnstone argues for a renewal of faith in the special ethicality of the academic profession, particularly within the research university, and urges a strengthening of this quality rather than the current fascination with more governmental regulation or heightened market forces to assure the proper balance between the university's (appropriately) multiple, complex, and subtle missions. Talburt, Susan. On Postmodern Theories in the Study of Higher Education: A Response to Davies Subjects: Davies, John. Postmodernism and the sociological study of the university. Postmodernism and education.