The potential use of the preferred imaging technique by the Office of Planning and Analysis of the University of Texas System is discussed, along with the use of environmental scanning. Preferred imaging is used to get people thinking about the future and how it relates to the external environment and the planning process. Preferred imaging appears to take advantage of the broad range of expertise available in the university and can be implemented quickly and efficiently. A session on imaging a preferred future of the University of Texas System was conducted with the planning representatives from the 14 component institutions. Over 70 images were produced in 15 minutes by a group of 18 people. Subgroups then identified steps to be taken before these images could become reality. It was discovered that the same themes were underlying the action steps for all three images. An in-depth analysis will now be conducted on these underlying themes. The imaging technique encourages planners to be more proactive than when using more conventional scanning methods. Scanning is the process by which indicators of change in the environment are identified. Environmental analysis then looks beyond the issues identified by environmental scanning to an evaluation of those issues. (SW)