In an effort to stimulate and assist higher education administrators to think and do something about the erosion of buildings taking place on many campuses, this publication serves as a basic overview of the problem. Rising energy costs, continuing inflation, and worsening financial conditions in general only compound the situation that has been estimated to amount to as much as a $35 billion accumulated maintenance deficit. A framework for carrying out the survey of deferred maintenance work is provided and survey guidelines include an example of a maintenance survey organized by class of work and subdivided into priorities. Items to be considered in developing an appropriate presentation for funding deferred maintenance are discussed. The role of the facilities manager is defined. It includes responsibilities involved in identifying goals, establishing an organization to execute work, and adopting policies and procedures to assure a program with a strong sense of accountability. The appendices contain guidelines for evaluating facilities management, examples from three institutions of facility reviews that show work needed and estimated costs, and an analytical approach often used to determine whether a facility should be renovated or replaced. (Author/MLF)