That William and Mary is a small, traditional, liberal arts college does not exempt it from the need for interdepartmental coordination, efficient allocation of resources, and accountability. In conjunction with the International Business Machines Corporation (IBM), the college undertook an extensive probe into information networks to see if the…

Describes a program to increase decisionmaking effectiveness in higher education through continuous organization development supported by computer based information systems and institutional research. (Author/RA)

The Santa Ana College (SAC) Research Office cataloging system based on ERIC subject descriptors and on an internally developed document source and author index is described. Each document entering the office is assigned a classification number which includes a subject index code, a source index code, the publication date, and a unique sequence…

The development of a computer-based decision support system for outcomes assessment at Southeast Missouri State University is described. A menu-driven, user-based retrieval and analysis and reporting system, the Statistical Analysis System (SAS) was designed. The decision support system incorporates two major components, research group…

It is suggested that much thought should be given to choosing an appropriate computer language for an institutional research office, considering the sophistication of the staff, types of planned application, size and type of computer, and availability of central programming support in the institution. For offices that prepare straight reports and…

Reviews the literature in the ERIC collection regarding the role of institutional research in the community college planning process. Addresses comprehensive and master planning, budgeting, program planning and evaluation, student follow-up, student information systems, and computer support. (DD)

The experience of Coastal Carolina College (South Carolina) suggests that, although the small college often has the same academic reporting demands for intercollegiate athletics as a large institution, the nature of the institution creates different recordkeeping and reporting challenges. Computerization and active institutional research staff…

The roles of institutional researchers in the overall goal setting and monitoring process were studied in 1982. In addition, the use of databases and new technology (e.g., computer models and planning aids, information retrieval systems, and national databases) as support mechanisms for assessment of institutional performance, and the methods used…

Designed to provide guidelines for the development of computerized student information systems, this report raises policy issues and questions to be resolved at the campus level and describes a variety of computer-generated reports and records that can assist in educational decision making and planning. Introductory material discusses the…

The effects of declining enrollments, rising costs, increasing public scrutiny, diminishing financial and energy resources, and emerging environmental impact considerations will be felt by all institutions of higher education, regardless of institutional type. To cope with these threatening issues, a strategic planning process must be developed…

The University of Notre Dame developed the Teaching Activity Report in an effort to present professors with meaningful summaries of their individual instructional efforts each semester. Geared to meet the needs of the individual instructors and their superiors, the Teaching Activity Report synthesizes all facets of the individual's instructional…

INFORMATION CONTROL SHOULD BE AN INDIVIDUALIZED POLICY WHICH IS DEVELOPED AND MAINTAINED FOR EACH INSTITUTION. THE NEED FOR INFORMATION CONTROL HAS ARISEN BECAUSE OF THE INCREASING NUMBER OF OFFICES AND BUREAUS OF INSTITUTIONAL RESEARCH, THE USE OF COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY, THE INCREASING NUMBER OF STUDIES ON STUDENTS, BUDGET REQUESTS, AND AMOUNTS OF…

The design and development of a computerized student flow model at Eastern Montana College and its use in monitoring student enrollment are considered. In addition, guidelines are presented for adapting a flow model to the dimensions of a particular institution. Particular emphasis is given to reviewing the criteria that researchers should use…

Proceedings of the 1982 forum of the Association for Institutional Research (AIR) and the 1982-1983 AIR Directory are presented. Titles and authors of general session addresses contained in section 1 are as follows: "On Quality: The Federal Connection" (David Pierpont Gardner); "New Initiatives of State Policy in Higher…

A computerized system set up at the University of Illinois for monitoring graduates and their experiences in the labor market is discussed, along with trends among graduates that have occurred over an 11-year period. The university initiated studies of graduates in 1972. About one-third of the content of the surveys is devoted to vocational…