From providing world-changing research to life-altering career paths, the function of today's 44 U.S. public university systems seems too self-evident to question. Nevertheless, higher education leaders often must work with their policymakers to defend funding levels—or adapt to budget cuts.

"Many states don't have a higher education goal or a plan, even though the advanced education of their population is probably the single most important quality that leads to [greater] health, prosperity, etc.," James Johnsen, a university advisor and former president, says on "The University Business Podcast."

Johnsen's new book, Public University Systems, guides campus leaders in working with states to advance social and economic mobility, workforce development, affordability and technological innovation. The goal is to build adaptive strategies that flex with the sector's perennial challenges: revenue, campus modification and system centralization or decentralization.