Recent changes in European higher education have accompanied a strong desire and need by national ministries to have comparable data across institutions and a growing recognition from campus leaders that effective planning and decision-making requires reliable institutional data and analyses. This has induced changes and restructuring of duties…

Indiana University has over 300 microcomputers connected to the administrative mainframe. The issue of micro/mainframe data transfer is discussed and guidelines for planning this capability are provided. Types of micro/mainframe data transfer products, product choice, and how the product works in the transfer environment are described. (Author/MLW)

This paper describes the advances in storing and accessing large resources of data as well as possibilities for utilizing these archives in research, instruction, and policy planning. Particular reference is made to the Project TALENT Data Bank. Project TALENT is described briefly. A section summarizes the state of computer technology with respect…

The administrative computing strategy that clarified requirements for the access control system and the concepts implemented to ensure a secure information processing environment are reviewed. Implementation at Virginia Tech resulted in the ability to electronically capture a document and route it through channels for electronic signature…

A major challenge in higher education is to build evaluation models that first of all spell out various effectiveness measures and then related cost data. The Program Effectiveness and Related Costs (PERC) framework addresses this problem. The five components of PERC are outcomes, costs, students, learning programs, and faculty. An overview and…

The process and experiences associated with strategic planning in a recently decentralized administrative information systems environment are described. Background information on why Virginia Commonwealth University decentralized the authority, responsibility, and accountability for the delivery of administrative information services to major…

At Indiana University the demand for word processing, the burden on the university's text processors, and the variety of commercial equipment demanded detailed, systematic technical and social planning. In the process of studying available equipment and software, the university's Office Systems Groups developed tools for evaluating the technology.…

Some basic conceptual tools, knowledge, and experience that help evaluate needs for a management support system (MSS) to meet the planning and management challenges in academe are presented. An MSS must integrate the planning, control, forecasting, modeling, reporting, computing, and data administration functions of the system. (MLW)

An evaluative study was done by the Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance of the structure and costs of multiple data entry (MDE) processing for work on applications for higher education financial aid through federal programs. The Committee reviewed reports, met with Department of Education staff, completed a position paper, and…

Examines the need for medium to large academic libraries to have a policy for staff use of microcomputers. Key issues that should be covered in such a policy are outlined, including rules for acquisition and use, compatibility of hardware and software, and data administration. A model policy is provided. (CDD)

Data custodians are described as "owners" of the data and administrative computing staff the data processors. New hardware and software have put the processing tools into the hands of anyone who can afford them. The term "end-user computing" refers to the processing of data in the administrative units. (MLW)

Much marketing information can be obtained for admissions policy formation and forecasting from existing data sources, including course perceptions, the nature of the competition, and the admissions policies of the competition. The British university application system would benefit by exploiting computer applications of this concept. (MSE)

Institutional policies are needed to guide the responsible use of data, especially in a decentralized operating environment. Factors that influence the development and implementation of policies for decentralized data use are explored. Data use, technological developments, and the needs and responsibilities of users and the institution must be…

Describes the development of Project EASIER, a collaborative electronic-data interchange for networking Iowa local school districts, education agencies, community colleges, universities, and the Department of Education. The primary goal of this project is to develop and implement a system for collection of student information for state and federal…