The origins and expansion of the University of Michigan Information Technology Division (ITD) partnership with academic units is described. The program, which began with the university's largest academic unit, features distributed computing and support services. Lessons have been learned concerning deans' attitudes about computing technology and…

Results of an experiment at Stanford University in which terminals were placed on the desks of principal officers, including the president and five vice presidents, is described. A computer-based electronic message system was made available to this group. (MLW)

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)

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 activities of Project TRANSACTION, a 10-year research and development project of the College Scholarship Service division of the College Board, are described. The project is intended to unify the student financial aid delivery system through application of electronic information technologies. (Author/MLW)

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)

The implementation plan, database design and data relationships, and benefits achievable through an integrated online/database approach to a university information system are presented. The core of the Washington State system is a central name and address file. (Author/MLW)

To provide effective leadership and assure project success, policy makers should understand two major pitfalls in pursuing purchased administrative systems solutions. First is the failure to organize for successful project implementation and monitoring, including organizing for contract negotiation; second is the failure to develop an effective…

A methodology to assist decision making about the relative priorities of alternative projects developed at the University of Western Ontario is described. The method identifies the principal options for information systems development and permits application of executive judgment to the strategic importance of competing projects. (Author/MSE)

A discussion of Executive Information Systems, the newest decision-support computer application for organizations, argues that this approach could profoundly change how colleges and universities are managed. Using graphics, icons, and mainframe data retrieval software, middle management can handle large quantities of information. Proven design…

The ways that planned change processes were used by two universities--Old Dominion and the University of Pittsburgh--in successfully carrying out projects to implement changes in their administrative systems software, hardware, and operating environments are described. (Author/MLW)

Through integration of administrative information systems across diverse technology platforms and opening access to institutional data, Indiana University has begun to expand the concept of academic information systems. The university's experience has resulted in conclusions and guidelines for other institutions to use in AIS planning and…

Eight public universities in Mississippi and the State Board of Trustees are committed to the development of a statewide management information system. The background of the project and the progress made during the first two years are described. (Author/MLW)

The approach used by the University of Pittsburgh (Pennsylvania) in designing a campus-wide information architecture and a framework for reengineering the business process included building consensus on a general philosophy for information systems, using pattern-based abstraction techniques, applying data modeling and application prototyping, and…

The University of Minnesota's Integrated Information Center focused on both technical and organizational integration to bring coherence and unity to support and delivery of information services. After six years, while unexpected progress has been made with end users and technological issues have progressed well, organizational issues continue to…