In this document, a state appointed task force commissioned to examine how Ohio state colleges and universities can sustain quality programs with the highest degree of efficiency during times of fiscal constraint reports on its findings and conclusions, and offers its recommendations. Following an executive summary the report is presented in four parts the first of which offers an analysis of the challenges facing the state's higher education system in the coming decades. The second section provides an overview of higher education in Ohio profiling the system's size and scope, the students, the faculty, governance structures, and goals. Also treated here are the historical values expressed in Ohio's policy of access, quality and efficiency. The third section presents facts about the Ohio system particularly concerning revenue and expenditure patterns and "cost drivers." The final section advances the recommendations and conclusions, which involve linking state colleges and universities more effectively, suggests six statewide priorities, and encourages the strengthening of leadership responsibilities. A brief dissenting report on the conclusions is included. Extensive appendixes contain the following information: location of state institutions; enrollment data and degrees awarded; student and faculty data; efforts to improve access, quality, and efficiency; revenue and expenditure sources; faculty workload and productivity; medical school plans; and executive summaries of reports to the task force from individual colleges and universities. (Contains 52 references.) (JB)