CONCERNED ABOUT THE FISCAL INTEGRITY OF STUDENT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS, FEDERAL POLICYMAKERS VIEW 'BETTER INFORMATION' AS ESSENTIAL IN PROTECTING STUDENTS FROM MISLEADING ADVERTISING AND CONSEQUENT NONPRODUCTIVE USE OF GRANT AND LOAN FUNDS. HOWEVER, THE QUALITY OF INFORMATION ON COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES PROVIDED STUDENTS SHOULD BE ASSESSED IN TERMS OF THE STUDENTS' PURPOSES, NOT THE PURPOSES EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS AND GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES. THE STUDENT INFORMATION GAP PROJECT DELINEATED A STUDENT INFORMATION BILL OF RIGHTS, WHICH DESCRIBES 12 TENETS ESSENTIAL TO AN INFORMATION SYSTEM DESIGNED TO SERVE STUDENT PURPOSES. THE BILL OF RIGHTS PLACES CONSUMER PROTECTION WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF INDIVIDUAL AND STUDENT RIGHTS AS WELL AS GOVERNMENTAL REGULATION. IN IMPLEMENTING THEIR RIGHT TO INFORMATION STUDENTS' HIGHEST PRIORITY IS TO DEVELOP INSTITUTIONALIZED ORGANIZATIONS AND PROCESSES DESIGNED TO INCREASE USEABLE INFORMATION ABOUT POSTSECONDARY EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES, INCREASE THE RESPONSIVENESS OF EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS, AND REDUCE THE COSTS OF EDUCATIONAL SERVICES. EXAMPLES OF PROBLEMS AND LIMITATIONS IN POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION THAT EXIST IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH ORGANIZATIONS AND PROCESSES ARE DISCUSSED. STEPS TOWARD ORGANIZING STUDENT INTEREST IN CONSUMER ISSUES ARE NOTED. (LKM)