The problem with which this study is concerned is that of the influence of local- and state-level external forces on the actions of the Texas legislature with respect to financing public higher education at senior institutions in Texas during the period from 1965 through 1983 as perceived by high ranking academic administrators. The specially designed survey instrument elicited respondents' perceptions of the degree of influence of specified local— and state-level external forces on institutional funding and the amount and usefulness of contacts made by respondents with such forces in an effort to exert influence for the purpose of increasing state funding for their institutions.