At state and institutional levels, leaders are discussing and enacting policy changes that could shape the future of higher education for decades -- especially public higher education. But when citizens talk about the mission of higher education today, their conversations are different from those of policymakers. How do their values and concerns intersect with the arguments and ideas leaders are putting forward? What are their hopes for -- and concerns about -- higher education? What do they value? What changes do they need to think about and deliberate? This report to the Kettering Foundation, prepared by Public Agenda, describes the thinking of college students, parents, professors, employers, retirees, and others who gathered in more than 115 public forums, titled "Shaping Our Future," around the country in 2012 -- 2013 to deliberate on the future of higher education. Using a short issue guide, they considered three alternative options for higher education: