Describes the increasing trend of incorporating electronic commerce methods to purchasing systems at colleges and universities. Provides examples from the University of Pennsylvania, Harvard University (Massachusetts), California State University at Fullerton, and the University of California at Los Angeles. (DB)

Networking trends have accelerated the convergence of computers and communications. With this and the increasing need to share resources and information, educators are faced with many considerations concerning vendor selection, equipment compatibility, performance criteria, wire and cable specifications, and installation of selection systems to…

Many operational and some tactical information needs can be well supported with current information technology and campus-based data, but information support for many tactical and most strategic decisions may be aided by interinstitutional collaboration. (Author/MSE)

Microcomputer-managed examination scheduling at the University of Calgary (Canada) has two stages. The first uses mathematical methods to create a timetable that is conflict-free, uses a minimum number of periods, and minimizes the number of students with multiple exams in one day. An interactive stage allows the examination officer to accommodate…

The University of Michigan, winner of a federal award for its campus energy conservation, has developed a building automation system that uses direct-digital-control technology to manage energy use. The project, undertaken in partnership with an energy management company, has saved over $10 million since its inception, and includes a revolving…

An explanation of electronic mail describes what it is, how it works, uses by campus administrators and national and international academic networks, how to get connected, costs, and how to use specific networks. Additional resources such as special interest mailing lists and selected library catalogs and databases are noted. (Author/MSE)

Evaluation of campus computer services has been limited by the ability of higher education administrators to relate their experience in evaluating other, more traditional services to the technical complexity of computing services. The explosive growth of computer technologies requires development of a common framework for their evaluation. (MSE)

Internet2, a consortium effort of over 100 universities, is investing in upgrading campus and national computer network platforms for such applications as digital libraries, collaboration environments, tele-medicine, and distance-independent instruction. The project is described, issues the project intends to address are detailed, and ways in…

The past decade has seen dramatic changes in administrative computing, including more systems, more applications, a new group of computer users, and new opportunities for computer use in campus administration. (Author/MSE)

University computing is in rapid and continuing change. What is needed are structures and procedures flexible and adaptable enough to capture new opportunities and stable enough to allow order in each transition. This must involve all parts of the institutional community and include both centralized and decentralized participation. (Author/MSE)

As campus computing is decentralized, new responsibilities will devolve to deans. These can be met by appointing faculty committees to develop academic computing plans for teaching and research, assigning departmental staff to administrative systems project development teams, and forming new alliances with directors responsible for academic and…

Increasingly, college and university alumni associations are providing confidential online career services, including access to job listings, opportunities for resume postings, direct access to quality applicants, and bypass conventional advertising and expensive headhunters. For alumni, they expand job networking opportunities and facilitate the…

The microcomputer revolution, in which small and large computers have gained tremendously in capability, has created a distributed computing environment. This circumstance presents administrators with the opportunities and the dilemmas of choosing appropriate computing resources for each situation. (Author/MSE)

The description of the day of a hypothetical college president and his intense use of microcomputers illustrates how the use of this technology may become integrated into administrative style and efficiency. (MSE)

Reports on ways five multicampus colleges are using computer networks to share information and perform an array of academic, administrative, and support functions. Offers insights regarding economies of scale, broad-based involvement in planning, alternative solutions, and potential for expansion. (DMM)