This article grew out of a roundtable of national leaders in higher education which explored questions regarding the role of, and trust in, institutional leaders when faced with seemingly insurmountable problems. The essay argues that while individual responses to change are certain to differ by institutional setting and circumstance, the very idea of change sounds a note of paradox across the enterprise. The article also maintains that while some administrators have enjoined their faculties to confront tough issues, many leaders have turned to sources other than the academic core to maintain institutional viability. In contrast, the faculty see themselves as overworked and under-appreciated. Whereas in prior years, a collegial atmosphere facilitated the peaceful solution of institutional challenges, currently the tone of many campus discussions between faculty and administrators regarding alternatives on campus has grown strident. A proposal to take certain steps to narrow the gap between administration and faculty suggests viewing the future as a joint venture by: (1) establishing a framework for debate and decisionmaking; (2) debating issues and providing pertinent information; and (3) clarifying the role of those within the academy. (CK)