The types of positions for which black administrators were hired in predominantly white colleges and universities in the late 1960s and the 1970s and the problems they encountered are considered. It is suggested that the threat of more riots by the black community and the federal government's threat to withhold funds from institutions with an insufficient number of black personnel resulted in the appointment of more blacks to administrative positions at various levels in predominantly white institutions. It is claimed that blacks were either hired to manage programs directed to blacks or they were hired to staff positions with impressive titles functioning, at least theoretically, in direct support to top level white line officers in the institution. It is argued that the nature of the jobs offered to blacks increased the possibility of failure and that failure was in part directly attributable to the reasons for which they were hired. Additionally, black administrators were given the responsibility but not the power and authority in the formal administrative structure commensurate with that responsibility. On the other hand, the programs they administered were poorly supported and outside the mainstream of the campus community. The programs that emerged during the 1960s were academic programs (black studies and ethnic studies); easy access programs (open admission programs); and academic support programs (special tutorial and remedial in nature). The programs tended to be supported on temporary funds, the creditability of the coursework was challenged by white faculty, and their faculty members were not tenured. (SW)