Predicting the future is unreliable.  However, simply recognizing the “direction toward the future,” especially when it is little changing, can be useful for planning purposes.  Such was the case for university planning during the period of great stability from 1945 to 1990.   However, when the direction to the future changes abruptly, as it did during the 1990s, the guidance for planning provided by a new apparent direction (whatever it may be) is undermined by its loss of a record of stability.

This presentation addresses these 20^th and 21^st century directions to the future, and offers observations drawn from them that may be useful in planning at universities and elsewhere.  Planning for the 21^st century direction, and stepping away from planning for the 20^th century direction that no longer exists, is surprisingly difficult but it is necessary to recognize and undertake.  The 21^st century direction opens planning to substantial changes heretofore not considered.  As expected, some are substantially underway already.