Factors contributing to declining academic performance of college students are considered, including: increased government intervention in education, declining faculty expectations and lowered standards, administrative policies, and changing student attitudes and expectations. One view is that government is largely responsible for the deterioration in academic standards and performance through funding requirements and mandates to higher education to accommodate underprepared students. It is claimed that many faculty members have been forced to relax course content and requirements in order to accommodate underprepared students, while others have sought popularity or personal relationships with students at the expense of maintaining high academic standards. Administrative procedures that encourage poor attitudes toward learning include: relaxing admissions policies; and using student evaluations of faculty performance in promotion, tenure, or salary decisions. It is suggested that many students undertaking independent study options are unable to fulfill the requirements or are not mature enough to work independently. An indication of deteriorating academic performance is grade inflation and the decline in general test scores, such as Scholastic Aptitude Test scores. (SW)