The goal is to steer students and their parents away from companies that take the money and run.

Notably, the scholars say, the new curriculum seeks to steer students toward peaceful solutions to the region's difficult problems.

"We need to not steer students to a G.E.D. when they can get high school credits and a regular diploma," she said.

Universities with medical schools may be better equipped to steer students to outside professionals.

For years, the thrust had been to steer students away from vocational courses into college-bound classes.

We certainly do not "tend to steer students away from more valuable, four-year degrees."

Some loan companies have criticized preferred-lender lists, contending that college officials steer students to particular lenders in exchange for payments or other benefits.

Officials at loan companies say their operators follow a script worked out by the colleges and do not steer students to their own products.

Each arrangement, critics say, creates an incentive to steer students toward particular lenders regardless of the loan terms they are offering.