As a college alumni organization designs a World Wide Web site for communication, it should consider why it is creating the site; features that will appeal to its audience; the effort it will take to keep information timely; adding to the site's value by offering useful, interesting information not available anywhere else; and touring other sites…

The general structure and systems of the Internet and the National Association of College and University Business Officers' NACUBO Net are described, and the potential usefulness of their services to college and university business officials is examined. Some resources specific to higher education are highlighted. (MSE)

A project to implement an integrated data system at the four-campus University of Missouri is described. Analytical processing is discussed as it relates to executive decision-making support. It is noted that understanding of specific institutional circumstances and timely delivery of supporting information are critical to system effectiveness.…

In response to concerns about the cost of keeping up with individual desktop computing technology, several new solutions have emerged. Referred to as "thin clients," or network-centric computers, they include two types of desktop device: the network computer and the Windows terminal. Purchase cost, life span, support costs, and overall total cost…

Offers 20 practical guidelines for colleges and universities embarking on large-scale administrative software initiatives or enterprise resource planning systems. Guidelines are based on the extensive experience of the authors and a series of panel discussions at 1999 professional meetings. (DB)

Many daily and some weekly newspapers have developed online services that colleges and universities may use to their advantage for disseminating campus news. To use these public relations opportunities, campus information personnel must become comfortable with the technology, investigate commercial online vendors, forge relationships with the…

Strategies used by five schools, colleges, and university libraries to thank major donors personally and sincerely are described, including a photo album of the gift's results, active donor participation in planning the facility donated, presenting a crystal etching of the building funded, posting of recognition on the World Wide Web, and a…

Offers advice to administrators and faculty in small colleges on planning, building, and managing campus computer networks. Also included are observations about the network as a strategic asset, funding and staffing issues, and planning for unexpected results. (Author/MSE)

College and university initiatives to recruit students through the Internet are described. Issues discussed include the kind and quality of information made available, different means of accessing it, and responding to user requests. Techniques for publishing on the World Wide Web and reaching the appropriate Internet audience are offered. (MSE)

College business officers whose institutions are not connected to the Internet can gain affordable access as individuals. Lists of Free-Net and community network systems in most states and of Internet and on-line service providers are offered. Additional sources of accounts are noted. Common Internet terms are also defined. (MSE)

Many colleges and universities will soon adopt distributed systems for executive information and decision support. Distribution of shared information through computer networks will improve decision-making processes dramatically on campuses. Critical success factors include administrative support, favorable organizational climate, ease of use,…

Seven papers from the 1990 CAUSE conference's Track IV, Policy and Standards are presented. Topics addressed in this track include data administration, computing access, involvement of constituencies in policy making and enforcement, and institutional standards for departmental systems. Papers and their authors are as follows: "Evolution of a…

Six papers from the 1990 CAUSE conference's Track V, Managing Telecommunications and Networking are presented. Topics address such subjects as network funding, support services, access to networks, improvement of instruction through networks, and image transmission. Papers and their authors are as follows: "What's New in…

A variety of strategies for college public relations professionals to improve communication with the news media is offered, based on the experiences of a number of institutions. They include providing a workshop about the institution for reporters, personal contact between administrators and reporters, making information about the institution…

Three high-technology approaches are suggested to make college and university development efforts more efficient: (1) use of automated systems for phonathons; (2) use of local area networks to speed access to databases; and (3) exchange of information on electronic bulletin boards. (MSE)