A step-by-step approach is provided for developing an environmental scanning system for colleges and universities to assist them in planning for the future. The objectives of such a system are to detect social, scientific, economic, technical, and political interactions important to the organization; define potential threats and opportunities from these developments; promote a future orientation in management and staff; and alert management and staff to trends which are converging, diverging, speeding up, slowing down, or interacting. Each developmental step required in creating an ongoing environmental scanning program is reviewed; these are: (1) the development of a program structure, i.e., the literature review needed, personnel to do the scanning, and types of available information resources; (2) developing a comprehensive taxonomy, including an electronic filing system; (3) identifying and assigning information resources; (4) securing scanners; and (5) training scanners and abstractors. It is noted that incorporating a systematic environmental scanning system process should enable decision makers to anticipate what is happening in the state, region, nation, and world, and, correspondingly, to plan more effectively. Contains 18 references. (GLR)