This book provides a palette of practical strategies that higher education leaders—administrators, faculty members, academic advisors, and the like—can apply to the task of rebuilding support. Once closely associated with the common good, higher education is now regarded principally as a benefit for individuals. As a consequence, support for colleges and universities has declined dramatically over the past 50 years, having serious implications for both public and private institutions.

After summarizing the erosion of public funding, acknowledging examples of “self-inflicted damage,” and proposing tactics for improvement, this book suggests how to engage natural allies and advocates of higher education, describes three key priorities that every higher education leader should pursue, and emphasizes the importance of maintaining rigorous and conspicuous transparency. Offering a clear-eyed account of this widely lamented issue and innovative approaches for addressing it, this book is essential reading for new, seasoned, and aspiring leaders in higher education.