Results of a national survey of chief academic officers are reported, with attention to their professional background and aspirations, how their time was spent and structured, and the scope of their position. Responses were obtained from a national random sample of 331 colleges and universities that was stratified based on student full-time equivalent size of the institution. To provide an overview of the national perspective of chief academic officers, the sample was weighted to represent the total universe of 3,328 institutions. The fall 1985 data were obtained from the U.S. Department of Education. Eight titles were identified for the position of chief academic officer. Additional information included: the age range of the chief academic officers; the mean salary; previous positions held by the officers; current involvement of the officers in teaching or research; the organizational units that reported directly to the officers; how the officers spent their time each week (group meetings, individual meetings, individual activities, and official social activities); a rating as to difficulty for 14 areas likely to confront the officers; differences for chief academic officers at two- and four-year institutions; and satisfactions and dissatisfactions associated with their responsibilities. 12 references. (SW)