As a part of the final report of the Arizona Board of Regents' Task Force on Excellence, Efficiency and Competitiveness, the history of statewide planning for postsecondary education in Arizona is presented. In 1974, the Board of Regents adopted a long-range planning document with statements of what it would not do to limit university aspirations and a list of institutional program additions that each university sought to add during the 5-year planning period of 1974-79. Following 1979, the Board revisited some of the planning issues and agreed that a clearly delineated mission statement should be created for the universities. The mission and scope of each of the four institutions were presented with the components of type of institution, degree levels offered, enrollment limits, physical plant, academic degree programs, and continuing education responsibilities. The resulting document is a compilation of the aspirations of the faculties and administration of each university rather than a clear statement of appropriate scope and explicit limits. The importance of a statewide mission document defining the needs to which the system will respond is stressed, noting that such a document should recognize the availability of educational programs in other regional states. It must deal with the issue of what programs are offered in Arizona, which ones need more than one offering by the system, and which institution will offer the program. Such a mission statement should be able to promote public understanding of higher education, promote credibility, insure economy, improve quality, enhance diversity of campuses and programs, and promote access to higher education. (SM)