Comments and recommendations to promote excellence in the Pennsylvania state system of higher education are offered for the consideration of policy shapers and decisionmakers. The following topics are addressed: setting priorities and determining system goals; building public confidence; clarifying roles and responsibilities of the state system; assuring standards; enhancing the academic environment in a humane setting; providing lifelong continuing education and professional development; and improving quality in teacher education, including teacher preparation, teacher testing, and inservice training. Under the topic of assuring standards, attention is directed to the issues of admissions and retention, general education, and competency requirements. Specific recommendations include: assure that resource allocation does not depend strictly on enrollment; work cooperatively with the secondary schools in preparing students for college; admit underprepared students and assist them to perform college-level work; review general education to strengthen present requirements; develop departmental tests to supplement institutional measures; use flexible and innovative alternative learning experiences; and relate programs of study and research to the needs of the community. (SW)