College campuses are hothouses of data, including course schedules, degree requirements, and grades. But much of the information remains spread out across software systems or locked on university servers. Start-up companies want to pry the information loose from campus servers in order to offer personalized services that could transform the…

When Canadian institutions would not provide courses for the Canim Lake (British Columbia) Band of the Shuswap Indians, Gonzaga University (Washington), 500 miles away, began a program of classes held on the reservation, linkage with the main campus by computer, and an on-campus summer session that entire families attended. (MSE)

A Vanderbilt University (Tennessee) undergraduate honors course in the physics of technology, taught in a special advanced electronic classroom, uses a computer data-management program to create a "stack" of index cards, from which students can answer their own or others' questions about technology. Students learn both physics and clear…

The growth of computer use into all areas of academic institutions has broadened and complicated the computer operations manager's job and has brought institution-wide management responsibilities, requiring more professional development in managerial skills. (MSE)

A project at the University of California at Berkeley is aimed at creating computerized catalogs of special collections throughout the institution, from departments to museums, to improve access for both scholars and laypeople. The project combines imaging and text records. Eventually, 80 or more collections may be included. (MSE)

TeleLearning System, Incorporated plans to offer correspondence courses by computer. Fifteen universities are participating in TeleLearning Network pilot programs; however, none of the courses are recognized for credit at this time. The courses combine the traditional correspondence course approach with the modern technology of…

H-NET (Humanities and Social Sciences OnLine) is a new, rapidly expanding international online network of scholars that was established to increase electronic mail communication among individuals. Currently, the program is devoting more attention to World Wide Web-related projects providing information and reference sources. Internal conflict…

Increasingly, budget pressures and rapid technological change are causing colleges to consider "outsourcing" for computer operations management, particularly for administrative purposes. Supporters see the trend as similar to hiring experts for other, ancillary services. Critics fear loss of control of the institution's vital computer systems.…

A versatile new facility at the University of Notre Dame (Indiana) has doubled the number of classrooms on campus and provides centralized multimedia instruction, controlled by classroom consoles. A 24-hour computer room is available to students, and faculty are provided with grants to adapt instructional materials for the new technology. (MSE)

The hometown of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University has created the Blacksburg Electronic Village, a community-based computer network linking businesses, schools, and individual community members. The university, telephone company, and town established the system collaboratively in 1992, and additional grants have come to the…

A number of universities now require all students to have computers, charging additional tuition to cover costs of hardware, networking, and technical support. Despite frustrations of extensive computer systems and technological change, most feel the programs are worthwhile and address the limitations of campus computer labs. Laptops have become…

New York University (New York) will offer a 16-credit graduate program entirely through an interactive network that can transmit video files and other multimedia elements into students' homes over high-speed telephone lines; students will log on anytime on personal computers. Program leads to an advanced professional certificate in information…

As Abilene and other research networks designed to substantially enhance research capabilities join the Internet, network managers are concerned about unforeseen problems with the untested systems and their complex connections. (MSE)

More faculty and administrators are seeking access to student files and class rosters and are gaining it through the proliferation of computer terminals on campus, raising the level of responsibility of registrars far above the actual level of control. An institutional approach to records security is recommended. (MSE)

The median salaries of secondary-position administrators (i.e., assistant or program administrators) in 69 administrative functions are reported for all universities, all four-year colleges, community colleges, and all institutions. Data were derived from an annual national survey by the College and University Personnel Association. (MSE)