Higher education remains the United States’ greatest asset and the envy of many industrialized nations. An ever-increasing number of students attend university each year in an effort to develop skills and perspectives necessary to succeed in increasingly competitive global job markets. While the path to success – which includes the tasks of applying to, paying for, and graduating from university – continues to challenge students, running America’s colleges and universities has become increasingly complex for administrators and leaders. The historic models of sustainable growth are being challenged due to increasing financial pressures, a changing student population, increasing competition from new sources, and an ever-present pressure to innovate. Making decisions in this “new normal” landscape requires a strategic balancing of mission-driven growth, financial realities, and organizational capacity.