Major policy issues are delineated and specific categories of postsecondary education data identified that are needed at the federal level to address these issues. This report constitutes a significant phase in the Common Core of Data (CCD) program which is a major new concept of the National Center for Education Statistics. CCD provides an integrated and interlocking system of educational statistics to meet federal, state, local, and institutional needs for planning and management. Federal policy issues include providing equal educational opportunities, meeting manpower needs, promoting recurrent education, stimulating educational diversity, and encouraging research in the national interest. The data needs reflect the broad dispersal of federal programs supporting postsecondary education and the important policy issues underlying them. The identified data needs call for varied collection methodologies, including surveys, samples, and case studies. NCES is suggested to provide a data coordination role as a national center with expanded operations and influence, as well as coordination with states and the postsecondary education community of associations, institutions, and individual researchers. (LBH)