Perspectives on issues in postsecondary education are presented with some reference to Oklahoma. Enrollment trends and the push toward cost effective educational programs are considered, and it is suggested that the important issue is often overlooked: the need to clarify the role of higher education institutions, or what society demands from the educational sector. A collapse of the spirit of community in American society and the growth of groups of people with special interests are seen as overall influential factors. Within the educational sector, there is a temptation to react more to the economic pressures, to react only to the needs of specialization as the top priority. It is proposed that higher education should produce graduates with perspective and not with tunnel vision, or the point of view of narrow specialization. Additionally, the preservation of the private sector is extremely important for the total system. Among the necessary responses are to avoid duplication of graduate programs. In Oklahoma planning for higher educational programs is a coordinated effort with the public and private sectors participating. It is suggested that it is possible to build areas of excellence in graduate programs, plan together to avoid duplication in the public and private sectors, and enter into some contractual relationships for shared services and resources. There is a need for higher education institutions to relate to the needs of society, and not overproduce teachers, for example. Additional concerns include whether new program development is feasible, whether new buildings are needed, and how to prepare for change and new roles when old programs are eliminated. (SW)