The opinions of Pennsylvania educational and legislative leaders on four issues of critical importance to higher education in the state were evaluated. For the two issue areas of enrollment and resources, respondents were asked through interviews and a questionnaire to make projections for the 1980s, to identify the group or agency that should be primarily responsible for planning regarding resource and enrollment declines for public sector institutions, and to express their views concerning a number of means for resource and enrollment planning. The responses are analyzed by respondent category (legislators, presidents and vice chancellors of four types of higher education institutions, and state department and board of education personnel). The pattern of responses for different issue areas are also analyzed. The third issue area was the relationship between independent institutions and state government. Fifty-six percent of respondents agreed that the state's role in private higher education would increase, while 38 percent disagreed, and 6 percent had no opinion. A larger percent of interviewed respondents felt that the state role would increase during the 1980s. Opinions on means through which the state could assist private institutions were obtained. The fourth issue area concerned the state level structure for enrollment and resource decision-making during the 1980s. Research and literature concerning these four issue areas and on the evolution of the relationship between colleges and universities and state government are reviewed, and possible implications for higher education in Pennsylvania during the 1980s are suggested. The system of higher education in the state is also described. A bibliography and a sample questionnaire are included. (SW)