The first part of the paper discusses how changes in ideology and power at the local and national level may have contributed to the increase in advanced degrees for women. The remainder of the paper discusses how these ideological and political factors have affected the participation of women at the Westcliffe Business School. Changes at the Westcliffe School of Business from 1968, when the proportion of women among first-year students was 2%, to 1974, when the proportion of women students was 19%, are described and explained by members of the school and by sociologists. The period since the student unrest of the 1960s is noted to have produced changes in ideology and power on national and local levels. Among pressures described for educational changes are feminist challenges to traditional sex roles, and the use of federal power to combat sexism in graduate education. Considered are aspects of change at the Westcliffe School of Business, including an increase in female applications and admissions, a more open attitude toward women students, changes in administration, more liberal admission policies for women, recruitment activities by women students, and general ideological changes in attitudes toward advanced degrees for women. The author agrees that, although these local and school-centered changes are significant, national ideological influences and political events have played a larger role in increasing the number of advanced degrees awarded to women. (Author/DB)