The universality of administrative functions and tasks is sufficiently established to make special preparation programs for any one group of higher education administrators unjustifiable. This thesis is based on research undertaken to determine if significant differences existed in the functions or tasks performed by presidents, vice-presidents of academic affairs, academic deans, and department chairpersons in selected two-year and four-year public institutions of higher education. Questionnaire responses were received from 24 presidents, 28 vice-presidents, 25 deans, and 18 chairpersons representing 27 two-year colleges and 30 four-year institutions. The only differences that were found within, between, and among public junior/community and public senior college institutions--or in the operation of the key administrative positions within, between, and among these institutions--is in the frequency with which various administrative functions and related tasks are performed. For administrator preparation, these data suggest that separate programs to train two-year and four-year college administrators are unnecessary and that the theory of universality of administrative functions should be a keystone of administrator preparation programs. In addition, core areas and foundation courses are fundamental, and related disciplines such as industrial engineering, business administration and management, political science, and public administration have much to offer. (Author/MLF)