The future of higher education and its relationship to economic growth were the focus of a one-day conference at the Chicago Fed on November 2, 2005. Cosponsored by the bank, the Committee on Institutional Cooperation, and the Midwestern Higher Education Compact, the event brought together over 100 academic, business, and government leaders. The conference indicated that traditional models of higher education finance and service delivery are under stress. Declining financial support from state sources and changing student demographics require new service delivery models. (Contains 3 notes.) [For "Higher education and Economic Growth: A Conference Report. Chicago Fed Letter. Number 222b", see ED505633.]