Results of a 1979-80 survey of institutional presidents are evaluated. The officers of 481 public colleges and 864 private colleges were mailed questionnaires, and 544 responses representing 266 public and 336 private colleges were received. Of the respondents, 477 were males and 66 were females, and the following titles were identified: presidents, chancellors, deans, vice-presidents, and provosts. In regard to academic preparation, social science fields were the major emphases at the bachelor's, master's, and terminal degree levels for those respondents who supplied this information. Seventeen different types of experiences in four categories (teaching, public service, professional practice, and administration) were identified as professional experience before becoming college and university presidents. Presidents of both public and private institutions perceived governing board relations, planning and administering the budget, and program development and improvements to be significantly more important to their overall functioning than their handling of student affairs. They also rated planning and administering the budget as being significantly more important than personnel tasks. Tasks that were rated as consuming the most time along with tasks perceived as important are analyzed separately for representatives from public and private colleges. Both groups also rated the stress potential of tasks and challenging current and future issues that confront higher education. Among the issues that were identified are: fiscal responsibility, tapping traditional and nontraditional funding sources, and responding to enrollment declines. Implications regarding training leaders in the field of higher education are addressed. (SW)