A Multiphase Rolling Plan (MRP) implemented by the State University of New York to deal with declining percentages of state tax resources and projections for stabilized enrollments is described. For the preliminary budget cycle for fiscal year 1982-1983, academic and mission plans were linked to the annual budgeting process. Developed to ensure the consideration of academic, fiscal, and political criteria in institutional plans and budgets, MRP was organized along three major dimensions: intercampus program changes, intercampus affiliations and trades, and campus mission changes and system reconfiguration. Among the critical concepts of the plan are the following: meshing planning and budgeting; 5-year rolling horizon; systemwide configuration and options; strengthening the quality of the system; and campus planning essential to system planning. At the present time, 34 state-operated/funded campuses are included in every aspect of MRP's detailed processes. These campuses were provided a comprehensive preliminary budget package that contained historical 1975 and 1980 data, and that required from the campuses 1982 budget request information along with projections for 1985. Linking planning to the actual budget in the system and the campuses was based on strong executive leadership and a committee network and informal supporting subcommittees. The official budget and planning document forwarded to the campuses contained 15 schedules, 8 of which are listed. Three major systems that were used in supporting the preliminary budget process were the Course and Section Analysis System, the Student Data File, and the Academic Program Information System. Eight conditions and fluid relationships that characterize institutional research are also outlined. (SW)