In early 1983, a survey was conducted among the presidents and board chairpersons of the 14 public community colleges in Pennsylvania, asking respondents to rate the level of importance of 20 presidential roles based on their institution's needs during the 1982-83 academic year. During a joint annual meeting of Pennsylvania community college trustees and presidents, the identical survey was completed by attendees, based on projected institutional needs for 1986-87. Respondents rated the importance of the president's role as public relations specialist/image builder, financial manager, student liaison/mentor, marketer/salesperson, fund raiser, labor relations specialist, academic planner/innovator, administrator/executive, symbol/ceremonial official, consensus builder/mediator, community leader, trustee rapport builder/advisor, government liaison/resource stimulator, visionary/long-range planner, scholar/teacher, physical plant/property overseer, alumni liaison/motivator, faculty advocate, educational advocate, and interinstitutional diplomat. Study findings included the following: (1) in both 1983 and 1986, there was very strong consensus between trustees and presidents about the relative importance of roles; (2) for three roles, there was consistent dissensus for both survey periods (i.e., financial manager and community leader, which presidents perceived as more important; and interinstitutional diplomat, which trustees viewed as more important); and (3) in 1986, there was less consensus than in 1983 over the relative importance of the following roles: government liaison/resource stimulator, consensus builder/mediator, symbol/ceremonial official, and marketer/salesperson. The survey instrument is included. (RO)