Higher education's past, current, and future responses to occupational training and employment programs and services are considered as part of the Council on Education's Higher Education/Comprehensive Employment and Training Act (CETA) program, which was supported by the Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education. In addition, demographic factors and employment characteristics are examined since they provide a background for understanding college and university involvement with training and employment programs and services. Several case studies are included that illustrate successful occupational training and employment programs and services. Occupational education has been an established program in public education since before World War II, and during the 1960s and 1970s it grew steadily as college enrollments were increasing. A variety of occupational education programs and services that were more specialized than those available to traditional students in colleges and universities were developed to help those who were experiencing difficulty in entering the labor market. The case studies illustrate how two- and four-year colleges have responded in providing: classroom training in both academic and job-specific content skills in both blue-collar and white-collar occupations; employment services; employment and related research; program and policy evaluations; and continuing education for personnel specialists. Attention is focused on postsecondary programs and services funded under the CETA program. Recommendations for change are proposed in areas such as funding patterns, the structure and role of higher education, and the delivery of programs and services. (SW)