In most university communities, where schools and education play such a significant role in the economy and quality of life, funding for education is one of the most popular subjects of conversation.

With most states facing severe financial restraints, the question is how to provide adequate funding for public universities and local school systems. Cutbacks in state tax support have had enormous negative effects on school systems, both in grades K-12 and at the college/university level.

Administrators are spending tremendous amounts of time trying to figure out how to supplement school budgets to preserve quality education.

Lawrence school district officials would appear to be ahead of those in other districts. Early on, they realized what was likely to happen with reduced state funding and initiated a thorough, thoughtful study of how to reduce expenses and assign priorities to various facets of the educational program. They have made cuts and are prepared to take additional actions to reduce expenses.

Generally speaking, the same situation exists at Kansas University and the other schools overseen by the Kansas Board of Regents.

The challenge facing KU is a bit different, however, in that officials are trying to eliminate or reduce some programs while improving or expanding other programs. They are trying to rally university supporters to do what they can to help KU become one of the nation’s top 25 state-assisted universities. The chancellor has set a deadline for achieving this goal and added an even tougher challenge by saying he wants KU eventually to be recognized as one of the nation’s top 25 universities, public or private.

It is important to have goals that are challenging. Hemenway’s challenge was made when the economy was fairly healthy. Conditions are far different today.

Two years ago the KU Endowment Association launched KU First, a drive to raise $500 million for the university the most ambitious campaign in university history. During the early stages of the campaign, the drive was very successful. However, with the downturn in the economy, the challenge has become more difficult. Nevertheless, those closely associated with the effort remain enthused and optimistic the goal will be met or surpassed, as was the case with the previous KU capital drive, Campaign Kansas.

It is good to have a chancellor who sets high goals and expectations, and the challenge for KU to be ranked among the nation’s top 25 public universities is not out of line. At the same time, those interested in KU’s level of excellence should be realistic.

In the just-released U.S. News and World Report ranking of the nation’s colleges and universities, the magazine’s editors named Princeton as the country’s top university. Princeton was followed by Harvard, Yale, Cal Tech, Duke, M.I.T., Stanford, Pennsylvania, Dartmouth and a tie between Columbia and Northwestern. These are the top 10 schools, which are followed by University of Chicago, Washington University of St. Louis, Cornell, Johns Hopkins, Rice, Brown, Emory, Notre Dame and California at Berkeley.

In this U.S. News and World Report ranking, KU is graded as No. 41 among public universities. Being in the top 50 of the nation’s “best 162 public ‘national universities'” is a high honor. This 41st-place ranking, it should be remembered, is for public universities and does not include private schools such as many of those listed above.

Cracking the top 25 of public schools will not be an easy task. It will be even more difficult to land a similar position among all universities, public or private.

At one time KU was looked upon as one of the flagship universities of the Big Eight conference. With the addition of the Texas schools to the Big 12, KU was not able to maintain its leading position.

Now, in the U.S. News poll, other Big 12 schools on the list of the nation’s 249 best are Texas, in the top tier, and KU, Baylor, Texas A&M, Iowa State, Missouri, Colorado, Nebraska and Oklahoma in the second tier. The third tier includes Kansas State, Oklahoma State and Texas Tech.

Unfortunately, KU’s overall rating dropped from 39th last year to 41st this year.

It’s not going to be easy to climb the ladder, as it’s a sure bet those at the 40 public schools ranked above KU are going to be trying to improve their positions among the nation’s best. KU will have to try doubly hard to make any advancement.

Money and vision seem to be essential if KU is to step up to a higher level of excellence. Without adequate funds, whether in academic efforts or athletic competitions, a university is handicapped in every manner in its effort to become a more distinguished institution. Some of the other Big 12 schools ranked in the second tier have improved their position in recent years and are going to give KU more competition to remain among the very best in the conference and to keep from dropping in national rankings.

One way or another, something needs to be done to improve the morale, enthusiasm and optimism of KU faculty members. Likewise, there is a need for a long-range plan of how to have a chance of knocking on the door of the “top 25.” Many faculty members report they have no idea of any plan for how the university hopes to reach this goal other than by raising $500 million.

Many doubt that $500 million is enough and are disappointed they do not know more details about the drive for excellence. Some claim some of the deans feel left out and that there is poor communication throughout the university.

Speaking of communication, the university continues to need to do a far better job of telling its story to the people of Kansas. It is essential for Kansans, taxpayers and KU alumni to be enthusiastic about the importance of excellence at KU and the relationship of excellence at the university to the growth and development of the state.

So far, this story is not being told, or else it is being done in a manner that fails to get the public’s attention.

There is much to be done and it is not an easy assignment.