Recommendations concerning college role and mission that were made by the National Governors' Association (NGA) in 1986 are addressed, along with the concept of system effectiveness in higher education. In its report, "Time for Results," the National Governors' Association Task Force on College Quality asked states to clearly define the role and mission of each public institution. The Role and Mission Task Force of the State Higher Education Executive Officers (SHEEO) Association endorses the NGA recommendations. A better division of labor across institutions will foster not only quality but efficiency and public accountability. State boards, which articulate a vision for the system as a whole, also need clearly defined roles and missions. One of the most important goals of state boards is to understand and interpret the needs of the state. State boards also play a vital role in breaking down the organizational barriers that impede student access and achievement. It is suggested that an effective board: has a sense of its own identity, purposes, and priorities; knows what the state needs and wants for higher education; acts to acquire or reallocate resources to meet state needs; communicates effectively with key constituencies; and draws conflicting interests together. (SW)