TWO FORCES ARE COLLIDING IN THE LIFE OF THE AMERICAN UNIVERSITY TODAY--HISTORIC SENTIMENT, NURTURED BY THE FACULTY, AND THE PRESSURES OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS TO WHICH ADMINISTRATORS HAVE HAD TO ACCOMODATE. ADULT EDUCATION IS AT THE POINT OF IMPACT AND THE BASIC QUESTIONS ABOUT THE ROLE OF THE UNIVERSITY NECESSARY TO MEET THE ISSUE HAVE NOT BEEN RAISED. ONE OF THE MOST EXCITING IDEAS IN HIGHER EDUCATION IS THE CONSORTIUM. THE REGIONAL CENTER DEVELOPED IN NEW ENGLAND COULD BECOME A MODEL LABORATORY FOR A REGIONAL FACULTY OF ADULT EDUCATION WHICH WOULD RELATE INSTITUTIONS, CONDUCT BASIC RESEARCH, PREPARE GRADUATE STUDENTS, AND TEACH ADULTS. TITLE I OF THE HIGHER EDUCATION ACT WILL BE A SOURCE OF FUNDS BUT CAREFUL PLANNING IS IMPERATIVE. A COMRADESHIP BETWEEN COOPERATIVE EXTENSION SERVICE AND GENERAL EXTENSION WOULD EXTEND RESOURCES BY COMBINING THEIR EXPERTISE IN METHODOLOGY AND PHILOSOPHY. FINALLY, THE AUTHOR STATES, THE PRESIDENTS AND TRUSTEES OF INSTITUTIONS SHOULD REALIZE THAT CONTINUING EDUCATION OF ADULTS IS AS VITAL AS THE EDUCATION OF ADOLESCENTS. THIS FUNCTION MUST BE PART OF THE NORMAL BUDGET OF THE INSTITUTION, MUCH LIKE RESEARCH AND TEACHING, NOT AN EXPENDABLE EXTRA. THESE EXCERPTS WERE FROM AN ADDRESS PRESENTED AT A CONFERENCE ON EXTENSION ACTIVITIES (UNIVERSITY OF RHODE ISLAND, OCTOBER 25, 1966). (AJ)