This document is one of 5 sections of the Data Element Dictionary developed as part of the WICHE Management Information Systems (MIS) Program. The elements in this section apply to both the current and historical data concerning students. The purpose of the WICHE MIS Program is to make it possible to derive data which will be truly comparable for interinstitutional comparisons, while allowing institutional autonomy in such matters as coding and file structure. One of the major purposes of this section of the Dictionary is to obtain longitudinal data depicting changes in characteristics over a period of time. The criteria for inclusion of data elements are: (1) necessary for completion of Higher Education General Information Survey (HEGIS); (2) likely to be needed for the Student Flow Model, cost exchange procedures and the Resource Requirements Prediction Model; (3) necessary to link operational files together for the derivation of information; and (4) basic to institutional record keeping. The categories of student related elements are: personal and demographic data, academic summary data-previous institution, academic summary data-current institution, and detailed course enrollment data. To define each element, the Dictionary provides a number, title, description, and comments needed for further clarification. The anticipated utility of each element is indicated. After review of this edition, a second is planned. (AF)