The impact of changing conditions in higher education on state higher or postsecondary education agencies, and the issues facing such boards were examined in a project that also reviewed systems of coordination, governance, and structure. Existing structures were analyzed, especially their strengths and weaknesses in addressing stresses and problems expected in the next decade. After an introduction to the report, chapters are devoted to these topics: issues and recommendations for statewide planning in the 1980's; evaluation and appraisal at the state level (state authorization for institutional operation, institutional accreditation, systems of accountability, evaluation of state agencies); program review (new and existing programs, support for program review, coordination of state and institutional review, benefits and limitations); state management and higher education (restrictions, management of student aid programs, administration of federal programs, management burdens on institutions, and expectations of state higher education executive officers); and financing and budgeting in higher education (possibilities for pessimism or optimism, state budgeting trends and issues, the state role in the budget process, current budget roles of state agencies, and relationship of budget and finance to major higher education issues). Among the conclusions are that educational quality, public demand for accountability, issues of social justice, coping with inflation, and interinstitutional cooperation will be priorities of the decade. (MSE)