Abstract. In the book of American authors Holden Thorp and Buck Goldstein which is called "Our higher calling: rebuilding the partnership between America and its colleges and universities" examines the state and problems facing American higher education in the 21st Century.

The researchers believe that alarming symptoms caused by both internal problems of the American university environment, and increased competition in the university sphere from other countries, despite the generally successful performance of U.S. universities in the world rankings.

The authors consider the external symptoms include a reduction of foreign students in the US universities in recent years and innovative researches according to abroad universities, internal ones are the financial problems both students and universities, as a consequence, a reduction of colleges and universities, an increased percentage of students who have not bachelor degrees. All of these problems make additional difficulties in the promoting innovative education and employment of graduates. 

The monograph's authors see a way out of this situation in the fact that the university should not be managed as a commercial enterprise, it should be provided with a significant budget support. There is a preparation model of a liberal education's specialists is a societal good (primary) and that preparation for employment after graduation is secondary. There are some teaching methods should combine the best of the traditional lecture model and a new teaching tools (computer technology, MOOC's and etc.). The higher education requires not only the necessary and full funding for its development, but it has also constant attention from the state and public institutions, as well as business structures.

Keywords: higher education, faculty, students, collaboration, university leadership, innovative teaching.