This survey and analysis attempt to report on plans, programs, policies, and practices to meet the exigency situation, i.e., a decline in financial support and/or enrollments that require the release of professional staff -- tenured and non-tenured. The survey was made among institutions who were members of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities and/or the National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges. The report summarizes the questionnaire; raises a series of issues based on the methods, the problems, and some of the results of the plans formed by the institutions responding; includes six exigency plans that illustrate how public institutions of varying sizes and interests have dealt or are currently dealing with the problems of financial exigency. Finally, the policy statements adopted by the Association of American Colleges and the American Association of University Professors are included as materials to enable the institution to look at broad policies as well as analysing specific plans used by other institutions or systems. The intent of the report is to present guidelines and describe various plans that can be modified to suit the needs of a particular institution. (JMF)