This volume looks at the future of American higher education in 13 essays most of which were originally speeches to gatherings around the United States and the globe. The first series of essays in Part I looks at possible "contours" of the future and what choices should be made by higher education to advance the quality of future performance. One essay pays particular attention to leadership by presidents and trustees. Part II concentrates on the relations between higher education and the health of the economy, a relationship of great importance that is nevertheless perhaps overemphasized. These essays look at how well education has served the labor market, corporate-university relationships, whether the decline of the U.S. economy is the fault of education or others, and possible solutions. Part III looks at some of the problems now emerging that may influence the near future such as restoring quality to undergraduate education, teaching about ethics, the racial crisis in higher education, a two-stage model for distributing opportunity to sectors of society through higher education, and current institutional aspirations in a changed educational, economic, and social climate. Includes an index. Most essays also include some references. (JB)