Based on the educational philosophy of "anybody can teach, anybody can learn", a free university offers ungraded, unaccredited classes to the general public, without charge, on any topic such as societal issues, arts and crafts, intellectual subjects, and practical skills. To plan a program, only a borrowed phone and office, human energy, as little as $80 per year, and from 4 weeks to as long as 8 months are needed. The result of a need to help people duplicate the success of 12 free university projects established in Kansas from 1975-1977 by the University for Man (UFM), the manual provides detailed how-to-do-it guidelines on starting, running, and developing a community education program for a small or medium sized Kansas town. Eleven chapters, each written by one of the VISTA volunteers who directed the 12 pilot projects, cover all phases of the operation. Chapters discuss how to begin the project, timetable, project brochures, use of photographs, registration, program publicity, coordinator's role, advisory boards, incorporation of project, funding, and evaluation of project. Additional assistance in program planning may be obtained from the National Free University Network (FUN), a consortium of over 200 free universities and learning centers headquartered at UFM in Manhattan, Kansas. (NEC)