In order for the Governors State University (GSU) to reach its stated objectives, a unique administrative environment was created which supports the creation of instructional materials based on competencies. Performance objectives are used to describe course content and the learning requirements for individual courses within a program, as well as to report student credit. The objectives force the professor to identify the content and requirements of a course, thus providing an explicit guideline for developing instructional materials. The instructional communication center is committed to use modern communications technology in the delivery of instruction. Economy-of-scale is achieved through mass dissemination. When cable becomes available, the cost of launching a university could plummet down through the creation of a central instructional communications center with outposts, instructional systems, learning packages and low-cost meeting places. Cable decentralizes instruction. This study concludes with recommendations for cooperation among universities and within regions to develop a more efficient system of higher education. (WCM)