COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES ARE CHALLENGED TO EXPAND OPPORTUNITIES FOR CONTINUING EDUCATION FOR MATURE WOMEN. NEARLY 29 MILLION WOMEN ARE IN THE LABOR FORCE, MORE THAN TWICE AS MANY AS IN THE YEARS IMMEDIATELY BEFORE WORLD WAR II. IN 1966, THEY REPRESENTED 37 PERCENT OF ALL WORKERS IN PROFESSIONAL, TECHNICAL, AND KINDRED OCCUPATIONS COMPARED WITH 45 PERCENT IN 1940. THIS UNDERUTILIZATION OF THE SKILLS OF WOMEN IS A SERIOUS WASTE. IT IS THE MATURE, EDUCATED WOMAN WHO UNDERUTILIZES HER POTENTIAL BY RETURNING TO THE LABOR FORCE IN JOBS INCONSISTENT WITH HER CAPACITIES AND SOCIETY'S NEEDS. SHE NEEDS BOTH CONTINUING AND REFRESHER EDUCATION. OFTEN STANDARD COLLEGE COURSES PRESENT DIFFICULTY -- THEY ARE ORIENTED TO TEENAGERS IN BOTH CONTENT AND PACE, THEY DO NOT UPDATE INFORMATION IN THE FIELDS OF INTEREST, THE HOURS ARE INCONVENIENT AND COUNSELORS ARE NOT SUFFICIENTLY AWARE OF THE PROBLEMS OF MATURE WOMEN OR FACILITIES AND SERVICES TO HELP THEM. MANY COLLEGES ARE RESPONDING TO THESE SPECIAL NEEDS OF WOMEN BY DEVELOPING PROGRAMS INCORPORATING LIMITED COURSE LOADS IN DEGREE OR NONDEGREE PROGRAMS, FLEXIBLE SCHEDULING OF COURSES AT CONVENIENT HOURS, LIBERAL PROVISION FOR TRANSFER OF CREDITS, COUNSELING, FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, CHILD CARE SERVICES, AND JOB PLACEMENT OR REFERRAL SERVICES. SPECIAL PROGRAMS OFFERED BY SEVERAL COLLEGES ARE BRIEFLY DESCRIBED. THIS TALK WAS GIVEN BEFORE THE 22ND NATIONAL CONFERENCE ON HIGHER EDUCATION, CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, MARCH 7, 1967. (PS)