The distributed data processing system at an Indiana school district can be expanded without causing degradation in response time. Microcomputers are used for daily data entries, and to initiate data inquiries to the mainframe and to communicate with each other. (MLF)

A discussion of information management within institutions looks at the relationship between data administration, the application of formal rules and methods to information resources, and distributed data processing, the dispersion of computing functions, and data at electronically interconnected nodes within the organization. Technology, tools,…

Six steps in creating a master plan for the institutional computing system include: describing a mission for computing technology, establishing program objectives, matching the technology to the objectives, prioritizing alternative approaches, developing alternative approaches, and selecting the preferred approach. (MSE)

The LOTUS 1-2-3's special database management operations are used by school budget officials to display data in a variety of ways to assist their decision making. (MLF)

An automated list of bidders can be organized to provide an effective means of soliciting qualified suppliers to school districts. The system in Frederick County, Maryland, is described. (MLF)

The spreadsheet can be a powerful tool in marketing. Using a spreadsheet and admissions data, models can be built for: periodic reports of admission status, projections of the size and quality of the incoming class, and long-term recruitment strategy. (MLW)

An overview is provided of the methods used by the Forest Park campus of St. Louis Community College (SLCC) to plan and develop a local area network (LAN) for administrative microcomputers. The first three sections provide brief descriptions of the SLCC District, SLCC, and the Forest Park campus. Section IV looks at the organization of…

Integrated software is available to help with many of the small- to medium-sized school's management tasks requiring data analysis. Typical integrated programs include spreadsheet, database, graphing, and word processing components and cost less than the price of all the components purchased separately. (PGD)

Uses of personal computers, or microcomputers (micros), by college business offices are discussed, with attention to safeguards. An advantage of using micros is that business officers can develop their own applications with purchased software and need not depend on the data processing staff. The micros, which are located in the business office and…

Ways a microcomputer can be used to establish and maintain an evaluation database and types of data management features possible on a microcomputer are described in this report, which contains step-by-step procedures and numerous examples for establishing a database, manipulating data, and designing and printing reports. Following a brief…

This paper examines the administrative uses of the microcomputer, stating that high performance educational managers are likely to have microcomputers in their organizations. Four situations that would justify the use of a computer are: (1) when massive amounts of data are processed through well-defined operations; (2) when data processing is…

Important steps in the computing administrator selection process are outlined, including: reviewing the administrative computing organization, determining a search methodology, selecting a search or screening committee, narrowing the candidate pool, scheduling interviews and evaluating candidates, and conducting negotiations. (MSE)

The Microcomputer Program Oriented Budgeting System (MICROCOMP POB) is an accounts payable system intended for use in school districts. The system is based on the general principles of encumbrance accounting and the use of multiple account numbers. For each account number, the primary information provided consists of year to date balances for…

A nationwide survey of two-year colleges with collective bargaining was conducted to determine who serves as chief negotiator for the colleges, the sources of information these individuals rely upon for their data, and the extent to which electronic data processing is used in the bargaining process. Of the 248 two-year colleges surveyed, 160…

Steps that should be followed in choosing and implementing an administrative computer system are discussed. Three stages are involved: institutional assessment, system selection, and implementation. The first step is to define the current status of the data processing systems and the management information systems at the institutions. Future…