What is the state of America's universities? That is a vast question, and it was posed to the National Academies by the U.S. Congress. Specifically, Congress asked the National Academies to assess the competitive position of America's research universities over the coming decades. The results of the Academies' findings are in this 227-page report issued in 2012. Visitors to the site can download the entire report, although those looking for something a bit more brief may wish to download the 24-page executive summary. The summary offers some terse advice in the "Ten Strategic Actions" area, including the suggestion that states may wish to provide greater autonomy for public research universities so that these institutions may "leverage local and regional strengths to compete strategically and respond with agility to new opportunities." Some of the other suggestions include improving university productivity and reducing regulatory burdens.