The primary purpose of "National CrossTalk" is to stimulate informed discussion and debate of higher education issues. This issue contains the following articles: (1) "Effectiveness and Efficiency": The University System of Maryland's Campaign to Control Costs and Increase Student Aid (Kay Mills); (2) Remote Access: Western Governors University Offers "Competency-Based" Higher Education, at a Distance (Kathy Witkowsky); (3) The Future, on Loan: Many College Students Are Heading toward a Life of Debt (William Trombley); (4) Katie Christofferson (Kathy Witkowsky) (5) Joshua Drake (Susan C. Thomson); (6) Joh-Anna Kirkland (Susan C. Thomson); and (7) Thomas Dillon (Lori Valigra). Other Voices, a regular feature, contains the following articles: (1) Fear of Borrowing: Debt Aversion Is a Barrier to College Access, Especially for Low-Income Students (Pamela Burdman); (2) Funding Public Higher Education: A Brief Overview of the Fiscal Landscape Facing the States (Brian Stenson); and (3) College Student Literacy: New Report Provides Compelling Evidence that America's Students Are Not Measuring Up (Emerson J. Elliott).(Contains 1 figure.)