The COVID-19 outbreak emphasizes the need for alternative methods for data gathering and collaboration among researchers in a virtual research environment. One experimental design that is well suited in a social distancing research context is the single-case experimental design (SCD). SCDs can handle disruptions as: (a) they do not require large…

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to examine how chatbots can be used to address two key struggles that students face in first year--a sense of being disconnected from the instructor, and information overload. The authors propose that chatbots can be a useful tool for helping students navigate the volumes of information that confront them as…

Academic advising is an important component of a student's education, and more often universities are turning to technology to aid in this task. This paper presents a case study of an online advising system that complements a university degree audit system by providing honors students and advisors up-to-date details on individual progress towards…

The increase in computer facilities, applications, and access on college campuses raises concerns about information and resource management. In developing an information policy, Lehigh University (Pennsylvania) addressed a variety of issues, including legal liability, censorship, resource management, ownership of information, user responsibility,…

Colleges and universities must find a way to streamline and integrate information management processes across the organization. The Georgia Institute of Technology responded to an acute problem of dissimilar operating systems with a campus-wide integrated administrative system using a machine independent relational database management system. (MSE)

The University of Massachusetts has adopted user data groups (groups of information users whose function is to address data issues rather than applications or operations) to help develop an institutional culture supportive of more advanced information technology. The university is treated as a corporation and its five campuses as divisions. (MSE)

The development of a complex, highly computerized system of performance indicators by the State University of New York provides the means to monitor internal progress, report to a skeptical public, and compare the system's performance with a national sample of institutions. The system is described here, and the performance indicators and data…

Marist College, a small liberal arts college in New York State, began using computers in 1967 for academic and administrative uses. The growth of the computer system is outlined, referring to future plans and guiding principles for the system's operation. (MSE)

The management information system used at the University of Colorado is described, outlining its history, administrative organization, administrative systems, hardware, budgets, software, and future plans. (MSE)

The West Virginia Network for Educational Telecomputing (WVNET) was formed in March 1975 and provides a full range of academic and administrative information processing services to fifteen State supported colleges and universities. This paper briefly reviews the purpose of, rationale for, and configuration of the network. Accomplishments and…

The process of examining and reorganizing the computing system throughout the university is outlined, including decisions about hardware, policy for future computer use, information requirements, and provisions or policy formation. The structure and responsibilities of the Administrative Systems Committee are described. (MSE)

Carnegie Mellon University's decision to standardize its administrative system development efforts on relational database technology and structured query language is discussed and its impact is examined in one of its larger, more widely used applications, the university information system. Advantages, new responsibilities, and challenges of the…

Computing operations at Iowa State are described, including the general administrative structure with two separate facilities, administrative data processing systems, computer hardware, system integration, office automation, and microcomputers. One facility provides administrative and service information; the other is a campuswide facility for…

College alumni associations can use new events management software for effective, innovative event planning. Possible applications are illustrated in the cases of three universities. Information is provided on planning time, budget, hardware and software used, software uses, evidence of event success, and lessons learned. Planning considerations…

This case study of the acquisition and utilization of microcomputers for administrative purposes at Chipola Junior College, Florida focuses on the reactions of faculty and staff. After a brief review of the college's prior microcomputing activities from 1981 to 1985, the report is divided into four major sections: (1) how administrators involved…