THE UNRESOLVED PURPOSE OF EDUCATION IN A DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY--WHETHER ACADEMIC OR PRAGMATIC GOALS SHOULD PREVAIL--IS IDENTIFIED AS THE BASIC CAUSE OF THE CONFLICT BETWEEN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION. SINCE WORLD WAR II, FEDERAL SUPPORT HAS BEEN INCREASINGLY DIRECTED TOWARD ACTION PROGRAMS, INCLUDING SPECIAL GOVERNMENT SPONSORED SOCIAL WELFARE PROJECTS AS WELL AS STUDIES SUPPORTED BY NDEA, NSF, NIH, NASA, AND AEC GRANTS. RESULTANT PROBLEMS HAVE INCLUDED TEACHER SHORTAGE CAUSED BY FACULTIES SHIFTING FROM TEACHING TO RESEARCH, DISPROPORTIONATELY LOW SUPPORT FOR SOCIAL AS COMPARED WITH NATURAL AND PHYSICAL SCIENCES, AND THE REMOVAL OF FACULTY FROM EDUCATIONAL ASSIGNMENTS TO PLANNING AND ADMINISTRATIVE POSITIONS IN GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS. SUGGESTIONS FOR RESOLVING THESE PROBLEMS INCLUDE--(1) THE BALANCING OF TEACHING FUNCTIONS AND RESEARCH ACTIVITIES OF COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY FACULTY MEMBERS, (2) GREATER PARTICIPATION BY REPRESENTATIVES OF HIGHER EDUCATION IN THE PLANNING OF FEDERALLY SUPPORTED PROGRAMS, (3) THE DEVELOPMENT OF ADMINISTRATIVE PRACTICES AND POLICIES IN HIGHER EDUCATION FOLLOWING THE TECHNIQUES OF BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY TO EXPEDITE PROGRAMS OF SHIFTING KNOWLEDGE AND SERVICES, AND (4) INCREASING AND IMPROVED ACADEMIC SPECIALIZATION BY COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES, RELYING ON FELLOW INSTITUTIONS TO PROVIDE THE BROAD BASIS REQUIRED FOR REALIZING THE AMERICAN SOCIETY'S DEMOCRATIC IDEALS. THIS PAPER WAS PRESENTED AT THE SCHOOLMEN'S WEEK CONFERENCE (53D, UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA, PHILADELPHIA, MARCH 16-19, 1966), AND THE COMPLETE DOCUMENT, OF WHICH THIS PAPER IS ONE CHAPTER, "EDUCATIONAL IMPERATIVES IN A CHANGING CULTURE," IS AVAILABLE FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA PRESS, 3729 SPRUCE STREET, PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA 19104, FOR $6.00. (JK)