The changing status of female faculty at doctorate-granting universities during 1971-1980 is examined, along with patterns in the wide range of female representation across institutions. The data were drawn from the Higher Education General Information Survey. The percentage of women at all ranks increased 4.1 percent during the decade, from 14.7 percent to 18.8 percent. Most of the change occurred at the lower ranks; almost no change occurred at the full professor rank. However, at many universities, the number and percentage of female faculty oscillate up and down over the decade, suggesting that any increase is more likely the result of a random event than a vigorous affirmative action program. Fifteen of the 183 universities had fewer women faculty in 1980 than they did in 1971. Twenty-six report about the same or a lower percentage of women. An increase in availability of female doctorates during the period did not translate into automatic increments in female representation on all campuses. The relationship between the percentage of female faculty and institutional characteristics, such as student body size, geographic location, and curriculum emphasis, are examined for clues to the wide variation in current percentage of female faculty. (SW)