The partnership between the government and American research universities lies at the heart of the U.S. scientific and higher educational enterprise. This unique and historic partnership has advanced human health, enhanced national security, and produced human capital that has fueled technological innovation and economic growth, created entire new industries, and fundamentally changed the way we live. Yet the government-university partnership has grown increasingly strained and is at risk. The tremendous value and critical role played by the states and the federal government in support of higher education is not well understood by the public and has been taken for granted by elected officials. This has been particularly acute at the state level where continued budgetary pressures have resulted in steadily declining support for higher education. To ensure the continued success and advancement of American higher education, science, and innovation, it is critical that each of the partners--the federal government, the states, and research universities--reaffirm and strengthen this partnership. In this article, Mary Sue Coleman outlines specific actions that she believes should be taken by each of the partners to enhance that partnership.