A discussion of information management within institutions looks at the relationship between data administration, the application of formal rules and methods to information resources, and distributed data processing, the dispersion of computing functions, and data at electronically interconnected nodes within the organization. Technology, tools,…

An award-winning administrator of a college computer system discusses the role of networking and teamwork in successful information management, drawing on experiences during recent political upheavals in eastern Europe for illustration. Other success factors stressed include having and sharing a dream and developing future leaders. (MSE)

Although information systems developers are encouraged to adopt a client/server orientation, systems architectures and tools are still evolving. Successful applications must be built on standards and a well-defined system architecture, and data administration issues must be addressed. Key management concerns for colleges and universities are…

Reorganization of the information systems at Indiana University is chronicled and the role of computing services in linking all parts of the institution in support of both education and administration is discussed. Involvement of planning and policy groups in developing directions and initiatives is also outlined. (MSE)

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)

California Polytechnic State University at San Luis Obispo is exploring several cost-effective technological solutions to improve learning productivity, reduce labor intensity, and provide new ways to deliver education and better services to students while enhancing quality of instruction. Strategic planning and partnerships have been key…

Guidelines are offered for colleges to use in making decisions about self-operation or contracting of campus services. Six primary factors and 10 phases in the decision process are outlined. A matrix incorporating those factors and phases, and specifically designed for decision-making concerning campus computing services is also presented. (MSE)

The experience of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in adopting a cost-recovery strategy for systems development is described, providing information of use to all managers. Issues addressed include establishing revenue goals, marketing and promotion, contracting with clients, and time accounting and billing. (Author/MSE)

The University of Miami (Florida) information resources department developed and instituted a program of "jump level leadership" in 1989 to open communication between all hierarchical levels. Results include free flow of ideas within the department, organizational changes, and happier, more effective employees. Successes, problems, and…

A California State University study of alternative job design approaches in the university's information technology community is described. The study was designed to develop a job design approach that could adapt to changing skill requirements, promote continuous acquisition of skills for knowledge-based employees, and improve organizational…

Many colleges and universities have found introduction of a student technology fee troublesome. At the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, a carefully designed explanation of what the fee buys has won the endorsement of both student leadership and trustees. The plan articulates costs, distribution of fees, and accounting. (MSE)

A discussion of life-cycle costing for information technology at larger colleges and universities is designed to help both central and departmental administrators and other planners make critical decisions regarding resource allocation. Focus is on basic issues in life-cycle budgeting for departmental technology, and provides a sample worksheet…

While college libraries embrace new technologies to provide access to a broader range of information, they must also cope with high costs, both financial and legal. In the print medium, access and distribution are governed by copyright laws; in the electronic media, they are dependent on the technology available to the library and on terms of…

Faced with the challenge of providing security across a complex, multiprotocol institutional information network, computing services at Indiana University implemented a responsive, collaborative security architecture designed for the future. Information systems design, security principles and strategy, and implementation are described. (Author/MSE)

In planning for institutionwide access to information, Cornell University's information services focused on providing access to usable, sharable data from the university's legacy systems, keeping the interface as transparent as possible. A development strategy and user modules were designed that could be transferred to a variety of institutional…