The finances of public research universities are changing rapidly. Students and families tend to be more concerned with career objectives. These factors couple with the long-standing but evolving debates on general education and distribution requirements to bring about deep and stark questions about the future of humanities and liberal arts in public research universities. A team of Paula Fass and Judson King is working to organize group methodologies that are solution-oriented and can contribute to conclusions and practicable proposals that will influence and lead national consideration of these important issues.