Introduction

This chapter explains the two issues of overwhelming importance which unfortunately point in partially opposing directions with a number of other concerns that either distract or can be acknowledged but clearly should be relegated to a lower priority. Budget comes first, educational outcomes are second on the list of inescapable issues and then it explains how the priorities that result relate to other aspects of the university agenda. Currently, some university systems are seeking to provoke some discussion by another round of fairly dramatic tuition increases. Therefore, California currently heads the list here, hoping that this will provoke greater responsibility by the state governments involved, but the tactic is rather crude and carries clear political risks. Administrations and faculties must assume a new level of budget responsibility as part of the larger pattern of taking greater charge of our own destiny. In this case, however, one should combine this burden with renewed energy in the corridors of political power.