This collection of five essays on public higher education in New York State treats challenges and conditions for public institutions during the current and continuing conditions of financial austerity. The first, "Productivity and Cost Containment: The Challenge of Public Sector Budgeting" looks at financial management and budgeting as those functions are influenced by the larger public sector budgeting. The second, "The Case for Differential Undergraduate Tuitions" presents the complexities accompanying this strategy, argues in favor of differential tuitions and tries to put the significance of the issue in perspective. The third essay, "The Case Against Income-Linked Tuitions for SUNY and CUNY" argues that income-linked tuitions at the State and City Universities of New York would not make good economic, political or technical sense and would push the parental contribution to the limit. The fourth essay, "Budget Options for SUNY in the Face of Additional Major Cuts in General Fund Appropriations," addresses strategies for the university during the current financial crisis. The final essay, "Exploration of Campus Closures in Response to Further Deep and Seemingly Permanent Cuts in State Tax Support," enumerates the facts and principles which would influence such a radical move as closing down a campus. A brief conclusion describes the key mission of public higher education in the face of the likelihood of continued financial austerity. (JB)