In 1995 the Alabama Commission on Higher Education developed a new 5-year plan for higher education that emphasized cooperation among all stakeholders. The plan is designed to focus attention on important strategic issues facing Alabama higher education and the state, and to forge new or enhanced relationships to work cooperatively toward common goals and issue resolution. In establishing the framework for higher education planning, it is necessary to consider the current system of higher education in the state, the shared-power environment for issue resolution, and trends and issues likely to affect higher education. The Commission establishes, in this document, five goals for Alabama higher education: (1) access; (2) cooperation; (3) excellence; (4) responsibility, and (5) responsiveness. The strategic issues facing Alabama higher education for the 1996-2000 planning period include finding ways to demonstrate educational and financial accountability and ways to respond to demands for educational needs and services. Another strategic issue is that of identifying and addressing access, completion, and equity issues. Some actions are outlined to work on each of these strategic issues as the Alabama system of higher education responds to the needs of students and society through wise stewardship of state resources. (Contains 32 references.) (SLD)