The development of a new automated alumni and donor support system at UCLA is discussed. Elements of project dynamics that are critical to a large systems development project are described. (Author/MLW)

An analysis of the instructional systems approach used at nonresidential colleges in the United States and Great Britain. (HB)

Discusses the nature of and steps required in building an expert system. Includes comments by students given an assignment to choose a suitable topic and develop a small expert system related to that topic, as well as favorable faculty comments on the strategy. Also includes a student-developed expert system on rock-blasting. (JN)

The entity-relationship (ER) approach to database design is defined, and a specific example of an ER model (personnel-payroll) is examined. The requirements for converting ER models into specific database management systems are discussed. (Author/MSE)

Analyzes the development of small systems (under 15,000 part-time students) and introduces a new cost model to examine the importance of institution costs and course life and the economic impact of policy alternatives. It then examines aspects of management requiring special attention for these smaller systems. (EAO)

Describes the design and operation of a system that resulted from a project undertaken by a small specialized library to provide self-help for patrons seeking reference assistance. The areas of information available on the system are described, including standard reference titles, library holdings and services, reserve readings, and placement…

Discusses difficulties within higher education management in achieving expected outcomes because of problematic elements in: artificial internal structures, funding formulae, the relative importance of system parameters versus system structure, and the significance of time scales and delays in influencing system behavior. Suggests that university…

Designed primarily to enable blind students to more easily use the Open University's Student Computer Services, a project was implemented to generate computer programs (in BASIC) for a limited configuration microcomputer with synthetic speech as the only output program. Three techniques can be identified with synthetic speech generation:…

This paper describes one academic's experiences in utilizing a database management system, dBase II, with an Apple IIe microcomputer for record keeping and reporting. Initial problems created by processing data by hand or by a central computer system are described, and the selection process for a microcomputer purchase and software package (dBase…

Describes, for the student affairs officer, the importance of evaluating the context within which university-related decisions are made before choosing any proposed management techniques. (Author)

NCHEMS, National Center for Higher Management Systems, is a separate division of WICHE. Under the direction of a Board of Directors, who represent various sectors of postsecondary education, the NCHEMS staff works with a series of task forces and representatives of national associations to develop products for planners and managers. This document…

Covered in the proceedings of AACRAO's 63rd annual meeting are: basics in systems management; why, when, and how of reporting data; data base management systems; and budgeting. (LBH)

The use of a Joint Application Design (JAD) at the University of British Columbia for the first phase of student records system development is described. How the process works, what results can be expected, and how to adapt JAD to an educational environment are described. (Author/MLW)

Virginia Tech has implemented the Administrative Information System (AIS), an online system that displays policies, procedures, and general management information. A history of the project, analysis of design issues, review of system usage, and the synergistic effects the system has had are discussed. (Author/MLW)

The first of two articles discusses the obstacles to and advantages of cooperative systems planning and development by a team of academic librarians and computing center staff. The second examines the differences in funding approaches to libraries and computer centers, and budgetary problems involved when the two organizations share computer…