Stressing changes in program status, this study examined all American universities offering executive development programs (EDP). Criteria were six program features and six institutional characteristics. Information came from conference brochures and standard statistical sources, interviews with program directors and researchers, and questionnaires sent to program directors. These were among the findings: (1) ten universities had discontinued their institutes by 1968, while two others had reduced their seminars from two to one; (2) during 1958-68, 11 universities added 13 new programs; (3) schools conducting EDP tended to have been established relatively early; (4) 81% of EDP schools were authorized to offer graduate degrees; (5) broadening participants' vision and enhancing decision making ability were the leading EDP objectives in 1968; (6) the major changes in program content and methods have been toward more sessions on the business environment, and from case study techniques alone toward a more diversified approach; (7) most programs ran from two to seven weeks, and 55% of conferences were held in the summer. It was concluded that certain business schools lacking the institutional characteristics outlined in this study may have difficulty sustaining EDP. (Author/LY)