New England and the nation as a whole is facing intensifying global competition and rapidly growing demands for a skilled workforce. In addition, significant increases in spending by students and taxpayers have not moved the needle: the percentage of adults with a college degree has changed little over the past decade. New England must act now to boost productivity because key trends suggest that only little time has been left. This article presents the four converging trends that spell serious trouble for New England's higher education and underscore the need to think in terms of productivity. These trends are: (1) The leveling off of educational attainment; (2) The old inequities faced by the new population; (3) The turning point about to be reached by higher education finance; and (4) The rising public anxiety and political pressure for change. A list of three fundamental commitments for advancing productivity agenda are also presented.