Present difficulties of student personnel work on college campuses are outlined as the impetus for the reconceptualization of student needs. Drawing from the behavioral sciences made it possible to conceptualize higher education as a developmental community with available "power factors" for promoting desirable changes in students. The necessary information to construct and revitalize such a community is outlined and leads to a general model of behavioral intervention. The central unit of the community would be an "operational research" unit called a Center for Student Development. Three kinds of staff would be included: (1) behavioral scientists; (2) staff skilled in behavioral intervention; and (3) staff concerned with interpreting the accumulating knowledge to the college. The key to successful functioning of such a unit would be its administrative tie to both academic and student affairs offices. (TL)