The president is seen as the single most important person in the life of the college or university. The central responsibilities of the board remain how to get the best possible people and give them the best possible circumstances to work in. (MLW)

Formal state coordination of higher education is seen as a product of the enrollment growth of the 1960s. Declining enrollment will place great strains on coordination. The future of higher education depends upon the policies of the states, in terms of financing of new initiatives and overall guidance and governance. (MLW)

This speech examines the paradoxical issue of why, while higher education is making great strides and contributions, it is also in great peril, particularly concerning resource allocation and the more effective utilization of those resources. Included as evidence of higher education's contributions are greater access, greater outcomes in terms of…

The variety of conventional and creative responses of U.S. higher education institutions to declining enrollments and related educational change is outlined, and the shift in the role of state governments in higher education is discussed. (MSE)

Perspectives on higher education and its leadership are offered by the president emeritus of the University of California. Six impressions concerning higher education are considered, based on about 800 interviews conducted by a presidential leadership commission sponsored by the Association of Governing Boards. In addition to the perception that…