Older computer applications are often caught in cycles where maintenance and operation become increasingly expensive, yet replacement costs are prohibitive. Massachusetts Institute of Technology developed a strategic approach toward enhancing an existing alumni/fund-raising/gifts system to extend its life and avoid the capital costs associated…

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 experience of Dartmouth College (New Hampshire) in developing a campuswide information system to enhance the computing culture is discussed, focusing on four elements: the philosophy of computing as a public utility; investment in physical network infrastructure; standardization of workstations; and development of content-neutral network…

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…

Reports on the U.S. State Department's experiment with a new concept in management information systems for personnel resources--the Human Resources Information Systems (HRIS). Suggests that the HRIS approach may meet public executives' demands for accurate, rapid, responsive, and flexible information systems. (Author/JG)

Based on a study of 56 computerized decision-support systems, discusses the potential value of various decision-support systems, examines the challenges and risks such systems pose to managers, and suggests strategies for meeting those challenges and risks. (JG)

Examines issues related to real-world applications of higher education planning models, describing four different models as representative examples of the model spectrum. Also reviews situations in which qualitative considerations relegate the use of models to a low priority and situations in which information generated by models may be misused.…

Written for the general audience concerned with management information systems for use by vocational education agencies, this document is one of six describing the Management Information System for Vocational Education (MISVE), and provides a capsule summary of the major purposes and features of MISVE, which was designed to provide users with an…

An integrated data base system providing online services to purchasing and accounts payable, which was implemented at the University of Michigan, is described. The system was designed to use online IMS transactions for data entry and inquiry and IMS batch reporting programs. With the implementation of the system, departmental and vendor inquiries…

The Montgomery County, Maryland Public Schools, working with Operations Research, Incorporated, developed a Pupil Master File (PLMF). PLMF is one of the several applications included within the Pupil Subsystem of the district's overall computerized School Information System. The PLMF is designed to provide: 1) a master file which enables users to…

The process of designing a microcomputer program to cumulate and record student grades at Brigham Young University is outlined. The development was undertaken by the registrar's office with the input of faculty, including those who had previously designed their own grading software. (MSE)

Describes a computerized integrated data-base management system developed by the Colonial (Pennsylvania) School District, which is capable of extracting and combining data from separate data modules in any combination or form requested by district administrators. (JG)

Describes a computerized regional information system developed jointly by 18 counties in Tennessee, North Carolina, and Virginia for use in the planning of vocational education programs. (JG)

One of six documents describing the Management System for Vocational Education (MISVE), this document is intended to provide those persons who would administer, manage, or support MISVE operations with a basic understanding of the product package. This description of MISVE includes purposes and features, how the system differs from other…