The Proceedings of this conference are intended to serve as a basis for further study, discussion, and action regarding the role of student-oriented institutional research in Florida colleges and universities. The first paper outlines the methods, dimensions, and benefits of studying student characteristics. The second paper traces the factors that led to the founding of the Student Information Record System project, its philosophy, potential, and applications for the transmission of student data. In the third paper, results are reported of a pilot study that explored the academic rehabilitation role of the community junior colleges in Florida. This study involved students who entered Florida State University as freshmen, experienced academic difficulties, transferred to community colleges, and returned to FSU after attainment of the associate of arts degree. The fourth paper describes Florida Southern College's use of the College Level Examination Program in admission of upper level students. The next paper delineates technical problems of preparing computer printouts of survey data and describes the present and future use of such data. The sixth paper discusses the role of the recently founded Interinstitutional Research Council of the University of Florida. In the final paper, some of the methodological problems encountered by researchers studying the impact of colleges on students are reviewed and approaches suggested to this type of research. (JS)