Washington State University developed a comprehensive supplies inventory system and a generalized billing system with multiple users in mind. The supplies inventory control system developed for Central Stores, a self-sustaining service center that purchases and warehouses office, laboratory, and hardware supplies, was called AIMS, An Inventory…

Stresses the importance of common understandings of cost definitions and data collection in order to create reliable databases with optimal utility for inter-institutional analysis. Examines definitions of common expenditure categories, discusses cost-accumulation rules governing financial reporting, and explains differences between direct costs…

An integrated data base system providing online services to purchasing and accounts payable, which was implemented at the University of Michigan, is described. The system was designed to use online IMS transactions for data entry and inquiry and IMS batch reporting programs. With the implementation of the system, departmental and vendor inquiries…

This guide provides information to help postsecondary schools and guaranty agencies (GAs) understand how a cohort default rate is calculated, review backup data, submit challenges to GAs and/or Direct Loan Servicing Centers (DLSC), and understand the response from the GA and/or DLSC. A cohort default rate includes Federal Family Education Loan…

Niles Township School District 219, Skokie, Illinois, has rebuilt its personnel and payroll program. The new system provides a data bank for storage of any and all information required by both the personnel and payroll departments on each district employee. (Author/MLF)

Queensborough Community College, part of City University of New York (CUNY), has installed a new disc storage subsystem to speed up and expand its computerized college administration system. (Author)

The unit method of accounting for investments, also called the market-value method, is defined as a procedure for accurately allocating income and investment gains and losses, both realized and unrealized, between component funds of an investment pool. This procedure provides a data base for the calculation of investment performance. Advantages of…

The first years of the National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO) pilot project to collect benchmark data on college costs and service levels are discussed, focusing on lessons learned, needs identified, current use of the results, and the project's place in the association's long-term research plan. (MSE)

Discusses searching from remote workstations by novice undergraduate users based on experiences at Furman University (South Carolina). Highlights include CD-ROM databases versus online searching, including costs; electronic resources at Furman University, including a special lab for biology and chemistry majors; front-end search aids; and software…

Completion of a four-month study of Oakland University's administrative systems needs is reported. It is recommended that the university undertake a major developmental effort to design and install new systems, with particular emphasis on payroll/personnel, general accounting, and student records. Following the development of these systems, a new…

The college or university's business office can help reduce problems with student receivables through procedural review of the tuition revenue process, application of analytical methods, and improved operating practices. Admissions, financial aid, and billing offices must all be involved. (MSE)

The CardPac System of Educational Accounting project developed instruments and procedures for collecting information about aspects of the elementary and secondary educational programs in Iowa. This project included the development of a bank of educational information that will transcribe, integrate, and store information centrally for purposes of…

The purpose of this article is to comment on practice in the use of existing data bases in program evaluation and school improvement and to explore directions for increased and improved use. (BW)

This "fastback" outlines the steps to take in computerizing school administration. After an introduction that lists the potential benefits of microcomputers in administrative offices, the booklet begins by delineating a three-step process for establishing an administrative computer system: (1) creating a district-level committee of administrators,…

The purpose of this guidebook is to reflect the changes that have occurred since 1973 in governmental accounting and education finance. This document serves as a vehicle for program cost accounting at the local and intermediate levels. Although not required by federal law, the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) encourages state and…