This paper, one of a series from the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education's (WICHE) project "Higher Education and the Economy of the West," presents a summary of interviews, conducted by the WICHE staff during the fall and winter of 1991-92 with 22 "Frontier Thinkers." Issues discussed included planning for the future, responding to the public, serving a new clientele, effective collaboration, and curriculum reform. In addressing higher education's future in the global marketplace, interviewees noted the importance of understanding the connection between a single system of education and the economy, the need to change the culture of higher education, suggested the use of planning as a catalyst, and discussed the role of the states. Accountability was seen as the best way for higher education to demonstrate responsiveness to its public, but a role was also seen for governing boards in this area. Almost all the respondents referred to the need for a commitment to collaboration; most frequently mentioned were partnerships that link higher education with elementary and secondary education. Other issues mentioned were more effective use of technology as the means to serve a new clientele, revision of undergraduate curricula, a focus on internationalism; and changing the faculty rewards structure to encourage behaviors to revise and modernize the curriculum. Appended is a roster of Frontier Thinkers. (CH)