Higher education in the United States is threatened by the continued decrease in state and federal funding, increasing competition for the ever-decreasing funds. The need to understand and articulate institutional value is critical so institutions can communicate their worth as a means of ensuring viability. There currently exists an unclear understanding of how the public value of four-year colleges and universities is identified and communicated; this study provides some understanding. Using the Delphi method, this research examined how presidents, or their proxies, of four-year colleges and universities in Ohio identify and communicate institutional public value. Presidents are selected as participants because for centuries, college presidents have been tasked with conveying their institution's mission and value to the public. This study defines public value as "creating a pluralistic democracy through education, research, and community engagement for the betterment of society, which helps all people to flourish," provides characteristics of this definition, and includes implications for current practice. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]