Data and information needs of college administrators are discussed, along with the uses of information to support decisionmaking. Difficulties in applying information technology to the administration of higher education are briefly reviewed. Data and information are discussed both in definitional and functional terms. Data are defined as either quantities or codes (i.e., numbers that identify entity characteristics, such as sex or program level of students). Information consists of data that have been combined and given a form in which they convey to the recipient user some useful knowledge. Attention is directed to components of data (e.g., a reference entity, a descriptor, a quantity, or code); properties of data (e.g., validity, accuracy, and reliability); issues surrounding data (e.g., quantitative versus qualitative data); the properties of information; the kinds of information utilized by administrators; and the role that information plays in various decision processes. It is noted that information needed to support strategic decisionmaking is different from that which supports operational management. Finally, the difference between databases and information systems is distinguished, and guidelines for the development of a management database are provided. (SW)