The report presents summaries of presentations given at a December 1986 University Forum in which leaders from government, higher education, and the private sector examined trends behind the current decline in the rural economy and identified areas offering potential for revitalization. An introductory paper by William H. Gray is titled, "America's Rural Economy under Stress: Challenges for Continuing Higher Education." Ten presentations address responses to rural needs: "Developing Rural Communities" (Robert Beech); "Training Local Leaders" (Douglas McAllister); "Implications for Higher Education" (Steve Gunderson); "Reaching Rural Communities" (J. O. Grantham); "Upgrading Rural Education" (John Duffy); "Providing State Support" (John Crothers); "Defining Higher Education's Response to Rural Needs" (Judi Hackett); "Adapting to Changing Needs" (Allan Ostar); "Diverse Responses" (Morton Weir); and "Meeting International Challenges" (Raymond Miller). Douglas Treadway discusses "The Global Economy and Rural America: Implications for Higher and Continuing Education," and Frederick Humphries examines "The Academic/Rural Split: How It Happened and Why It Should Change." Model rural development programs are then described in six brief summaries, including: "The Missouri Product Finder"; The University of Minnesota-Morris Small Business Cooperation Office"; and "The Kansas State University Science Honors Program." (SM)