Decision-making responsibility in small private liberal arts colleges as perceived by faculty, presidents, and trustees is examined in light of the growing pressures of the 1980's on the institutions. Problem areas identified through a literature survey were the acquisition and allocation of financial resources, student recruitment and retention, institutional priorities, institutional purpose, government regulation of the private sector, and program curriculum. A survey instrument was used to test perceptions of problem priorities and problem-solving responsibilities. The questionnaire elicited replies from presidents, trustees, and faculties of some thirty private colleges with student populations less than 2,000. The responses reflected a marked degree of variance between faculty on the one hand and presidents and trustees on the other, with regard to levels of responsibility each share now and should share in the future in four of the seven problem areas. It is concluded that there may be a problem for a greater number of institutions, if the institutions studied can be considered representative of all institutions of their type. The survey is appended and a bibliography provided. (LC)