THIS PROJECT SOUGHT TO DEVELOP AN OPERATIONAL "TOTAL" DATA SYSTEM FOR AN INSTITUTE OF HIGHER EDUCATION. THE REPORT SYNTHESIZES MANY PREVIOUS EXPERIENCES IN DATA PROCESSING, IN ORDER TO PRESCRIBE A MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEM SUITED TO COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES. IT WAS FELT THAT A BROAD BASE, GENERAL PURPOSE INFORMATION SYSTEM WOULD CENTRALIZE AND STRENGTHEN THE MANAGEMENT OF THE INSTITUTION. THE FUNDAMENTAL DESIGN PRINCIPLES OF THE SYSTEM WERE (1) THE DATA BASE ITSELF MAY BE REGARDED AS A SET OF FILES, (2) MAINTENANCE OF THE DATA BASE SHOULD BE EFFECTED ACCORDING TO SPECIFIC SCHEDULES, (3) INFORMATION RETRIEVAL SHOULD BE SCHEDULED TO CONSIDER THE TOTAL REQUIREMENTS OF THE INSTITUTION, (4) INTRODUCTION OF NEW DATA SHOULD BE ORDERLY, WITH MINIMAL CHANGE TO EXISTING PROGRAMS, (5) EDUCATIONAL ADMINISTRATORS AND RESEARCHERS SHOULD BE TRAINED IN THE USE OF THE DATA BASE. (MS)