In September 1960, the Ford Foundation announced a Special Program in Education and the first grants under that program. The purpose of the program is to strengthen American higher education by assisting selected private universities and colleges in different regions of the country to reach and sustain new levels of academic excellence, administrative effectiveness, and financial support. As of mid-December, 1964, a total of $218.5 million had been granted under the program to 10 universities and 47 colleges. To obtain the full amount of the grants, the recipients are required to match the Foundation's funds in varying ratios by raising funds from other private sources. In general, the program has been most dramatically successful in underlining and reaffirming philanthropy as the great third force in college financing, an essential partner in support of higher education along with tax support and student tuition. Its impact is a new challenge to the convictions of citizens, boards of corporations, labor unions, churches and others in maintaining the diversity, responsiveness, and flexibility in our system of higher education in America. (Author/HS)