This volume is designed to assist both those who are establishing an institutional research function for the first time and those who are invigorating an existing unit. The authors write from their own experiences as institutional researchers involved with development activites. They provide maror guidelines for how to approach tasks and avoid major pitfalls. Seasned institutional researchers will find that many of the chapters provide a useful upddate on such issues as computing tools, data administration, the establishment of an assessment capacity, and interpersonal communications. This is the 66th issue of New Directions for Institutional Research.