Syracuse University's use of a personal computer to keep track of alumni reunion registration is described. They can take reservations over the phone, produce lists of returning alumni according to different categories, give catering current meal counts, keep track of special requests, and write personalized confirmation letters. (MLW)

Through an alumni-led effort called Project Search, Haverford College found 72 percent of its 825 missing graduates. The project has paid off in more than renewed alumni ties, with a 20-fold return in the first 3 years of combined annual and capital fund raising. (MLW)

A system implemented at the University of Wisconsin-Madison's medical school department of microbiology and immunology to track grant proposals before submission is described. Stress associated with proposal deadlines has been drastically reduced. Strategies used include a new submission process, development of an ideal timeline, and use of a…

An ongoing project to measure faculty work at the University of Southern California exemplifies the collaborative approach to producing an assessment instrument that documents both an individual's productivity in research, teaching, and service and determines the worth of his activities in relation to institutional goals. The resulting Faculty…

The University of Kansas record management system using optical disk storage in a network environment and the selection process used to meet existing hardware and budgeting requirements are described. Viability of the technology, document legality, and difficulties encountered during implementation are discussed. (Author/MSE)

The evolution of computerized job applicant systems is described and compared to that of computerized banking systems; the characteristics of such systems in the future, especially for minimizing data entry and maximizing accessibility, are then outlined and illustrated with the Carnegie-Mellon University system. (MSE)

This report examines the institutional level deacidification program that was formalized and instituted at Harvard University (Cambridge, Massachusetts)) for its research libraries. The report is organized into six sections. The first section, which describes the project's background, discusses the acidic paper problem, available mass…

Outlines strategies used by one Australian university for systematic quality improvement, including development of a quality management plan, devolution of responsibility for quality advancement to faculties and schools, and improving documentation of quality-assurance procedures and outcomes. Topics discussed include leadership, committees,…

The planning, design, and implementation of an information system at Pepperdine University in California is described. The difficulties of total redesign and new programing of a management information system are explained and recommendations for this process are made. (BH)

Foreign language teachers should become familiar and comfortable with computers. Learning about computers and their applications to the foreign language instructional process will provide teachers with the information needed to examine issues related to the new technology and stimulate discussion of its implementation in the school. All educators…

Two charting strategies to help students organize patients' data are Weed's problem-oriented medical record and Russell's condition diagram. Students at the University of Texas Medical School at San Antonio were divided into study groups. The condition diagram group format may be helpful for students with lower academic achievement. (Author/MLW)

The University of Missouri's alumni association is using technology to recruit new members, increase retention, and provide benefits and services. Examples include the use of members' electronic mail for communication, use of personal barcodes on membership renewal notices, and automatic membership renewal using credit and debit accounts. (MSE)

The role of the university in programs to stimulate economic development is examined, and the case of one such program that failed is described. Problems within the program included financial losses in large projects, corruption, widespread public criticism, and criminal convictions of two top program officers. Possible solutions, including…

Educational institutions typically have data filed in many forms in many locations, making the task of gathering relevant data for any purpose a difficult process. The Davidson Community College approached the problem by studying management information systems in other North Carolina institutions, searching ERIC, and pursuing leads in journals of…

Consolidation of Central Washington University's computing capability to an off-campus state service center and the use of mini computers on campus is discussed. The mini computer system is cost effective and provides an efficient on-line interactive student information system for the small and medium size institution. (BH)