The way in which university academic service units evolved historically is considered, a theoretical framework is outlined representing the present organizational relationship between the managerial perspective of these units and the university policy-making perspective, and a model is proposed for integrating academic service units into university policy formulation activity using institutional research as the primary organizational facilitator. Examples of academic service units are admissions, the registrar, financial aid, and institutional research, but they can include any professional-staff unit that deals directly with the curricular sector of university administration. These units directly affect the university policy-making process in the way they interpret and implement policy decisions, and if they are not integrated into the process, the potential exists for the formulation of piecemeal and ineffective policies. It is suggested that academic service unit professionals are differentiated from university policy makers and among each other based on functional roles within the university's operational framework, and that a coordinator is needed to maintain intergroup communication through the exchange of systematic information. The proposed model would enable overall university goals, policies, and plans to be defined utilizing the insight and information of all major participant groups in the policy formulation process. Feedback to goal setters by the operational or managerial professionals is included in the process. It is suggested that institutional researchers can help define issues and policies based on a university-wide perspective, and that they provide technical understanding to develop and evaluate the data base. A bibliography is appended. (SW)