This publication describes key characteristics and statistics on the nation's public universities as they look to the coming century including their role, meeting student needs, maintaining access, obtaining government support, and service the public through outreach and an expanded concept of public service. A section on meeting student needs describes changing student enrollment projections and demographics. A section on maintaining access and opportunity notes that average undergraduate tuition and fee charges have risen faster than inflation rates for at least 10 years. A section on stimulating government resources cites falling appropriation amounts per full time equivalent student between 1980 and 1994 (when inflation is taken into account), and points out that public universities conduct half of all basic research in the nation. A section on serving the nation's needs discusses spending to stimulate lifelong learning among adults, how computer use has changed the work environment, and the economic advantages of college education. Next, an expanded vision of public service is presented that includes increased emphasis on community service in tenure decisions, possible increases in extension-type efforts, and student participation in volunteer or community service groups. A final section briefly describes the National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges. Contains seven charts. (JB)