This booklet introduces the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) surveys administered by the Bureau of the Census for the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). It contains a general description of the survey forms and their uses. IPEDS is a system of surveys designed to collect data from all providers of postsecondary education. It is the core postsecondary education data collection system within the Department of Education. The survey universe contains approximately 11,000 postsecondary schools divided into baccalaureate or higher degree institutions, two-year award institutions, and less than two-year institutions. Each category is further divided into public, private nonprofit, and private for profit schools. Data are used for analyzing and reporting on trends and for policy formation. The surveys are (1) Institutional Characteristics (annual); (2) Fall Enrollment (annual); (3) Completions (annual); (4) Salaries of Full-Time Instructional Faculty (annual); (5) Finance (annual); (6) Fall Enrollment in Occupationally Specific Programs (biennial); (7) Fall Staff (biennial); and (8) Academic Libraries (biennial). A list of sources of IPEDS information is included, with instructions for accessing IPEDS via Internet. (SLD)