Growing sophistication about computer use among students and faculty, ready availability of microcomputers, and rapid advances in technology and software have led to more computing in all courses. While computer literacy used to mean programing, it now means familiarity with the technology and its everyday applications. (MSE)

A survey found the most selective colleges were most likely to require or recommend student ownership of microcomputers, specify the brand, offer purchase discounts, and have a low ratio of students, faculty, and staff to each microcomputer. It also gathered information on microcomputer ownership, access, software, assistance, and illegal use.…

The NeXT computer is described. With the programing tools that NeXT provides to help create software, professors could create programs for instruction in a few hours or days. The computer is aimed at scholars in the humanities as well as scientists and engineers. (MLW)

No college or university last year joined the 14 institutions that already require students to buy computers. The reasons include: greater than expected costs of supporting required computers, lack of educational software, and adequency of computer laboratories are sufficient for the needs of most students. (MLW)

Interviews with computer-company officials and a survey show that: despite higher education discounts, computer companies make money; colleges offer computer companies intellectual capital; students take hardware and software preferences with them into jobs; higher education influences computers built and sold; and higher education is a…