Case studies that describe the attempts of three colleges to improve institutional academic and program planning are presented. The institutions--Willamette University, Lorain County (Ohio) Community College (LCCC), and Ohio University--attempted to adapt and implement the planning process described in "A Handbook for Institutional Academic and Program Planning: From Idea to Implementation" (Kieft, Armijo, and Bucklew, 1978). The process has three major steps: (1) conducting a preplanning assessment, (2) describing the context for planning, and (3) implementing and operating the process. For each institution, background information is presented about its size, mission, and governance structure; past planning practices; and current institutional planning activities. Each institution's current planning practices are then evaluated. The emphasis on the case study of Willamette's experience is directed to preimplementation and initial implementation activities. In addition to developing a process similar to the one described in the "Handbook," LCCC integrated the planning process with management-by-objective procedures used by the college since 1973. Ohio University has a relatively complex planning process, initiated in 1976, that evolved simultaneously with the process set forth in the "Handbook." Sample questionnaire progress reports, excerpts from planning documents, and other descriptive materials are appended. (SW)