Quality assurance is defined and some of the tools of the quality assurance analyst and how they are being used at the Division of Administrative Programming Services at Clemson University are described. Customer involvement and training of the data processing staff to ensure quality products are discussed. (Author/MLW)

The administrative data processing department at Michigan State provides support to all colleges and departments, and designs, programs, tests, and implements university management systems. A steering committee determines priorities for development projects and provides a sounding board for long-range plans of information systems. (MLW)

Distributed Data Processing, linking a central processing unit to remote computer sites, allows end users more control over their own destiny. Schools have distributed hardware and software but not talent. The primary goal of these staff experts should be to educate users as fully as they can. (MLW)

Improved data processing services have increased efficiency and productivity at Pacific Lutheran. By performing administrative tasks more efficiently, the university can maintain accurate records, report information promptly, and extend better overall service to the university community. (MLW)

With a unique organizational structure, the Rockefeller University's need for administrative information systems is different from most institutions of higher education. The financial reporting needs of the many different laboratories led the university to purchase a computer-based accounting system. (MLW)

Much of the power of the "information center" comes from its ability to effectively use fourth-generation productivity tools to provide information processing services. A case study of the use of these tools at Western Michigan University is presented. (Author/MLW)

A comprehensive network makes computing available to many individuals on the Carnegie Mellon University campus. Electronic bulletin boards provide a new campus communication medium for the exchange of information on a variety of topics. Most of the administrative systems operate in an online mode. (MLW)

A comprehensive network makes computing available to many individuals on the Carnegie Mellon University campus. Electronic bulletin boards provide a new campus communication medium for the exchange of information on a variety of topics. Most of the administrative systems operate in an online mode. (MLW)

Two major Boston University computer installations--the Academic Computing Center and the office of University Information Systems--are described. Policies and priorities for information systems within the university are established by a committee and proposals for the development of new systems are approved through this committee. (MLW)

The University of Southern California has implemented a decentralized management philosophy. Implementation of this approach to management is facilitated by making accurate management information available to decision-makers in their offices in real time. (MLW)

Although administrative computing is centralized at Johns Hopkins University, because of the diverse nature of this research institution, there are over 100 academic computers at the university. Future plans include network operations and inquiry languages operated by users. (Author/MLW)

The University of Kansas' computing centers are located in a new computer services facility. Administrative computing at the university goes back to the 1950s. The teleprocessing network includes over 160 terminals located in 57 different administrative offices. The last major system installed was the student financial aid management system. (MLW)

The creation of the Claremont Computing Center as a separate organization to serve only administrative information systems represented a significant change from past combined academic and administrative computing operations. File integration and custom reports are handled by individual users; database design and file maintenance are controlled by…

Typical higher management expectations for the planning process are explored, along with why these expectations cannot always be met. Some limitations to planning for computer services are proposed that can make planning meaningful for operational concerns. (MLW)

Allocating limited resources to an unlimited demand is an issue faced by data processing management in higher education. Use of the central computer for word processing is creating a demand at many institutions that is stretching and exceeding the available computing resources. (Author/MLW)