States play a fundamental role in higher education, protecting both the investment of state dollars and their citizens as their consumers. Despite this central responsibility, many states struggle with how they might help ensure students are receiving a quality educational experience. This report offers insight into how states and systems can better engage in the question of quality and work to assure and improve quality in higher education. Among the suggestions provided: creation of a common definition of quality; clearly defining states' role in the process; and requiring institutions to submit plans for meeting specific learning outcomes.