The need for information services offers institutional researchers with experience in systems design, data management, and analysis an opportunity to study the key issue involved in providing this service to the campus administrative community. The case of the University of Kansas is described. (Author/MLW)

Document imaging, a technology that transforms printed text, figures, and pictures into computer-accessible forms, may be offered as a solution to document management problems involving space and personnel. Administrators and planners should understand relevant issues, considerations, difficulties, and options. Examples are drawn from the…

Colleges and universities must build and maintain a robust, comprehensive technology infrastructure to provide needed services today and in the future. Significant financial, technical, and human resource challenges inhibit achievement of this infrastructure. Rider University (New Jersey) solved the problem by forming a partnership with Bell…

Purchased application software has created a new set of problems for project managers charged with selection and implementation responsibilities. Eight activity phases in the software selection process are identified. Development and utilization of this approach at the University of Houston are described. (Author/MLW)

In the fall of 1982 Drexel became one of the first universities to introduce a formal microcomputer requirement by announcing that in September 1983 every entering student would need access to a microcomputer. The heart of the microcomputing program is Apple Computer's Macintosh. The microcomputing program is described. (MLW)

The Department of Education has begun a project to redesign the information systems used to deliver student financial aid funds to students, postsecondary institutions, lenders, and state guarantee agencies. The implications of this strategy are considered. (MLW)

Seeking alternative revenue sources, the University of Hartford (Connecticut) established a fee-based electronic information service for off-campus clients. After two years of pilot projects, market research, product identification and redesign, diverse marketing strategies, and financial investment, the service was not yielding anticipated…

At Eastern Washington University, strong executive leadership in a planning process incorporating a microcomputer-based model has begun to enable integration of campus planning and budgeting. The computer model offers departmental planners a sophisticated tool for analyzing alternative strategies over a number of years. (MSE)

A campus information center is one way to formalize the total user services approach to computing, as a strategy for the distribution and use of new technology with an emphasis on end-user sufficiency. (MSE)

The University of Virginia's Computing Survival Skills program, begun in 1997, addresses the ongoing technology training needs of departmental staff. An overview is provided of the program's first year, including background, content, materials, certification, benefits, results, success, and future plans. Tips for designing a training program are…

Virginia Tech's microcomputer policy is examined and how that policy dictates university procedures and practices for successful microcomputer programs is discussed. Microcomputer policy, software, approval, support schedule for planning and implementing the program and program evaluation are discussed. (MLW)

Issues surrounding the cost of Internet usage to individuals and institutions are addressed, including who currently pays for Internet use in colleges and universities, long-distance costs, how policy is set for institutional use, cost of transition to a larger system, and difficult issues to be faced in system expansion. (MSE)

A key issue in redesigning college and university business processes is whether new processes should be enabled by information systems that focus on them or share highly integrated data and common methods with older processes. An approach used at the University of Saskatchewan (Canada) that entailed reorganization, reorientation, and retooling is…

Advancements in information technology have caused many colleges and universities to reconsider the organization of the units providing information services. Ranging from joint planning exercises to full vertical mergers, changes in organizational structure are powerful tools administrators can use to integrate and effectively manage information…

A seven-year long-range information systems plan at the University of Miami outlined 44 applications, most of which were to be installed in a database environment via prototyping with fourth-generation tools. The challenges that confront information systems managers are described. (Author/MLW)