A study surveyed 370 administrators in four-year institutions in the mid-southern United States to identify factors that enhance administrative placement with regard to gender. By administrative position, the sample included the following: 20 presidents/chancellors/provosts; 50 vice-presidents/vice-chancellors; 100 deans; and 200 department or division chairs/department-division heads. The response rate to mailed questionnaires was 73 percent. The dependent variable of administrative aspiration was analyzed using multivariate analysis of variance with univariate follow-up tests on each of the multivariate effects. The following findings relate to male respondents: most found networking helpful in reaching career goals and rated professional organizations and personal contacts as extremely important networking opportunities; 54.1% chose to remain at the current level, and most of those aspiring to higher positions chose the dean level. Results from female respondents indicated the following: 47.7% reported networking helped them obtain their current position and a large majority believe it is helpful in reaching career goals; most also rated professional organizations and personal contacts as extremely important; 52.3% desired to remain at the current level; and most who did not aspired to the dean level. The majority of both males and females had male mentors during their master's and doctoral programs. Significant effects were found in the variable of administrative aspiration and were not related to gender. Those administrators aspiring to a different level of administration would most likely be those with advancement opportunities available. (Appendixes include a list of 15 references and 4 data tables.) (YLB)