A conference on the improvement of teaching in higher education reached the conclusion that colleges and universities need the help of a larger community than that of their own institutional settings. Professional associations, foundations, and the federal government share the responsibility for initiation of both research and development efforts. Conference papers address the following topics: a university perspective, a foundation perspective, improving teaching in America, graduate education in transition, private enterprise and educational change, professional associations and college teaching, planning an evolution vs. experience and controls, leadership, and factors affecting instruction in higher education. Participants included Robert H. Strotz, Raymond W. Mack, B. Claude Mathis, Russell Mawby, Robert E. Kinsinger, Kenneth Eble, Ann M. Heiss, Francis Keppel, John A.D. Cooper, Peter P. Muirhead, Fred M. Hechinger, and Steven Holbrook. Comments on the papers and a conclusion and summary of discussions are presented. (SW)