Management of information technology at Dallas County Community College District is centralized. Information technology organization and planning, integrated data network, computer services, end user services, and educational technology are discussed. (MLW)

Effective support for end users of computers has been an important issue in higher education from the first applications of general purpose mainframe computers through minicomputers, microcomputers, and supercomputers. The development of end user support is reviewed and organizational models are examined. (Author/MLW)

Project management (PM) software, used by business to facilitate planning and implementation of complex projects through database building, is discussed. Typical PM tools are reviewed, uses of the technique on campus are examined, availability of microcomputer PM software is noted, and its functional uses and benefits are explored. (Author/MSE)

ConnectPac, a software package developed at Iona College to allow a computer user to access all services from a single personal computer, is described. ConnectPac uses mainframe computing to support a campus computing network, integrating personal and centralized computing into a menu-driven user environment. (Author/MLW)

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)

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…

Relates how the story of how San Francisco State University evaluated IBM PC look-alikes, considered some of the risks involved, and decided to purchase over 100 of them. Questions of compatibility, vendor longevity, support, and other risk management issues are discussed. (Author/MLW)

This article explores the thesis that colleges and universities can leverage desktop computing power to address campus administration needs. It describes a study of administrative computing needs at the University of Chicago; identifies roadblocks to effective use of desktop computing, such as inadequate computing knowledge; and gives…

Microcomputing can be an important component of the provision of administrative computing services. The planning decisions that were made, results that were obtained, lessons learned, and disasters observed at Hamilton College are described. (Author/MLW)

The Academic Computing Center at Winthrop College has gone beyond simple connectivity in linking its three local area networks to each other and the campus minicomputer. The environmental impact of the installation of bridges and gateways on systems, personnel, and end users is described. (MLW)

At Southern Methodist University (Dallas, Texas), the emphasis in computing and information services has been shifted from dividing resources between administrative and academic computing to combined central support for microcomputing. A universitywide computer planning and policy committee and a college computer coordinator acting as liaison…

The college presidents of Baylor University, Mount Royal College, and the University of Tennessee, Memphis, were interviewed and their views regarding computing and information technology are shared. (MLW)

A study conducted at Virginia Tech to provide policy and decision makers information on student perceptions of computing is described. Questions to be raised when considering personal computing policies and programs are identified. (Author/MLW)

San Joaquin Delta Community College has created a graphic, electronic office environment called "Virtual Desk" to operate on employees' desktops. It is a front end to the computer network depicting a desk on which are mounted a calculator, spreadsheet, notepad, calendar, word processor, electronic mail, and file drawers and bookshelves.…

Bowling Green State University (Ohio) produces a microcomputer resource handbook that contains a comprehensive listing of campus employees with unique microcomputer expertise they are willing to share. The project's current success suggests expansion and follow-up activities in the future. (Author/MSE)