Abstract

Several studies conclude that the entire U.S. educational system, pre-kindergarten to postgraduate (typically referred to as P-20) is a system where “. . . too many Americans just aren’t getting the education they need – and that they deserve” (Spellings 2006). This paper argues that senior university administrators are best equipped and positioned to bring together the “triple-helix” of government, industry and education and provide the entrepreneurial leadership needed to make changes in the P-20 system. A sound mission statement for higher education is an essential first step in this change process. Successful mission statements are succinct and clearly conceptualize the purpose of the organization or institution; they form critical guidelines for those making strategic decisions. A macro level mission statement, created by the leadership in higher education, would act as a model for individual universities or colleges as they create their particular missions and develop strategic triple-helix collaborations to change the P-20 system. The research addresses the question: “does the Academy’s historical mission of teaching, research, and service provide an adequate conceptual model that a diverse set of decision makers can employ as they address the changes needed in a complex and dynamic educational system?” The research question was then subdivided to investigate three issues: • What insights can we gain about the Academy and the trilateral mission ideas (TMI) of teaching, research, and service from the history of higher education and the evolution of the American university? • Assuming that the TMI are somewhat universally accepted by the American university, what do these concepts really mean when applied to higher education? • Are the TMI ideas robust and flexible enough to guide the leadership of our higher education system as they face increasing complexity in the triple helix system of education, enterprise and government?