The authors describe the special education management system (SEMS), a microcomputer system for management of special education and pupil personnel data. The use of SEMS for four types of information and management needs is outlined, and some of its various components are mentioned. (SW)

Increasing numbers of schools in Great Britain are using curriculum notation and curriculum analysis to assist them in decision-making and curriculum review. The purpose of and criteria for assessing a management information system are examined. (RM)

A systematic approach for managers to make data-based decisions using management information systems in human services delivery settings is described. It involves a behavioral definition of management information use, the identification of behavior disruptions in information use, and an intervention designed to reduce disruptions and promote use.…

Establishing the computerized information needs of a college development office involves defining the reporting needs, understanding the concept and content of structured files, defining the data elements to be included in those files, and outlining the potentially useful applications of the information and programs. (MSE)

User dissatisfaction with computer systems usually results from too little involvement of the user in the programing process. Defining information requirements satisfactorily and taking steps toward smooth staff acceptance of the system are important prerequisites to satisfaction with the system's design. (MSE)

Suggestions are provided for college development offices interested in linking an office word processing system with the institution's main computer system. These include researching needs, leasing versus purchasing, obtaining equipment, and making the most of the system obtained. (MSE)

By linking office systems technology with data processing operations within colleges, administrative support can be improved in the areas of: office records management, document creation and dissemination, management information, data processing, and office communications. Systems implementation efforts at Penn State are outlined. (Author/MLW)

A marketing information system approach for college admissions is outlined that includes objectives, information needs and sources, a data collection format, and information evaluation. Coordination with other institutional information systems is recommended. (MSE)

The promise of mainframe computers in the 1970s for management information systems (MIS) is largely unfulfilled, and newer office automation systems and data communication systems are designed to be responsive to MIS needs. The status of these innovations is briefly outlined. (MSE)

Describes how the Stillwater (Minnesota) Independent School District uses microcomputers and an adaptation of a widely available software program to compute, during collective bargaining sessions, the costs to the district of proposed compensation packages for teachers and other employees. (RW)

Use of existing computer software within the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS), offering the mechanism for an automatic management information system, is described. A historical database on students, staff, and costs was developed for eight Australian colleges. The system compiles and tabulates a wide range of reports. (MSE)

With the aid of a federal grant for energy conservation, the Warren Consolidated School System (Michigan) will purchase a Margaux 6400 Building Management system to manage energy usage in 35 district buildings. Reasons for selecting the system and system capabilities are briefly discussed. (Author/JN)

The main types of computerized management information systems found in community health nursing are described. The state of the art and several case studies are presented. Ways such systems will operate in the future are explored. Finally, suggestions for better utilization of computer systems are discussed. (CT)

As computer systems play a larger role in student financial aid, the aid officer needs at least some expertise in computer programing. The advantages of the BASIC computer language for learning computer programing are discussed. The kinds of programs that can be written by the financial aid officer are identified. (MLW)

Due to the effects of reduced student enrollment, inflation, and competition, colleges need new methods to allocate resources. A management information system that provides a variety of management information data and that is useful in supporting program decisions is described. (JN)