<p>cangel, the problem is that being a bastion of research is what brings in the money to educate. When research suffers, so do the schools finances. American universities are so strong in terms of research because they are not government subsidized and must compete for money through research. Partnerships with the private sector and philanthropy already exist on a big level at the UCs... but clearly more is needed. BTW, in California at least, schools with a mandate to educate also exist in the form of community colleges and, to a lesser degree, state university system.</p>