In the interest of understanding the role of Chief Planning Officers (CPO) in gaining broad support for planning within an institution of higher education, this paper used a national survey of administrators to examine that role. This study, conducted by the National Center for Postsecondary Governance and Finance, involved a survey of 3,333 college administrators at 256 higher education institutions randomly selected within 2 levels of stratification: (1) by type of institution, and (2) by major characteristics. It sought to discover administrators' views of planning. Using results based on an overall response rate of 45.8%, the study examined the relationship between having a chief planning officer and administrators' perceptions of campus planning. It found that the presence of a CPO was accompanied by: (1) an increase in the perception of more comprehensive and rational planning; (2) an increase in the likelihood that administrators attitudes about planning would favor more comprehensive processes; and (3) a greater effect on perceptions of how planning was handled on campus. It is noted that the presence of CPOs may symbolize the rationality of the planning process and the institution's commitment to a comprehensive, analytical planning process. The report includes 6 tables and 28 references. (JB)