The following information was gleaned from the internal publications of the institutions mentioned.
* Wells Fargo has given $1.1 million to develop a program at Arizona State University aimed at improving the understanding of Mexican-American culture. Wells Fargo is the first corporation to donate funds to the Hispanic studies program within ASU's Department of Chicana/Chicano Studies.
* A task force in Virginia convened by the state's attorney general put the finishing touches on a report on alcohol abuse, that include recommendations that Virginia colleges and universities notify parents of their child's alcohol abuse; it also called for increased drunk driving penalties. The task force backed off from a plan to ban tailgate parties at sporting events. In a supportive gesture, leaders of six national fraternities signed a "Declaration of Independence from Alcohol" -- a resolution to phase out alcohol from their houses nationwide by the year 2000. They still need to get the full support of all of their members. The fraternities include: Delta Sigma Phi, Phi Delta Theta, Phi Gamma Delta, Phi Kappa Sigma, Sigma Nu and Sigma Pi.
* The University of Southern California recently announced a new campaign goal. Buoyed by major new gifts -- including a $17 million gift from an alumna -- the Building on Excellence campaign has now set its sights on $1.5 billion by 2000.
* Donations to the Johns Hopkins Institutions have set a record for the third consecutive year: $185.1 million was received by the university and the Johns Hopkins Hospital and Health System for the fiscal year that ended June 30.
* Beginning July 1, Arizona State University employees who retire with at least 500 hours of accumulated sick leave receive a substantial cash payment, thanks to a new policy covering state employees that was passed by the Arizona State Legislature earlier this year.