American kssociation for Higher Education,

Federal action that tas influenced, either directly or indirectly, ihe curriculum of higher education is examined. The purpose is to patter compreaend the process by which educational policy decisions are reached by the government and what institutions of higher education have to lo with this process. A review of recent federal funding programs in relation to degree expectation by field and level (in 1975-76 ana projected to 1985-86) shows a positive correlation between fields receiving significant federal support and tendency of students to choose taose fields, as well as a decline in stuuents majoring in selected fields that lack federal support. It is noted that the federal government is increasingly considersdthe major.spur to educational innowaticn, although funding levels for innovation in nonscientific fields and fdi encouraging institutional diversity are extremely 104. A result has been the compellin