This paper is based on the assumption that in shaping academic strategies for long-range planning purposes, educational institutions must be able to gather adequate information on which to base administrative decisions. Information on how the institution has operated in the past as well as how it is currently operating are critical items for valid strategic planning; such information is crucial for internal operations. A management information system (MIS) is defined as a system that permits a user to retrieve, arrange, and display data maintained in the files. Negative characteristics of currently advertised MIS products are: they are expensive to purchase; expensive to install; often require the purchase of additional hardware; and, in addition, it takes time to install the systems, organize and input the database, and train people to use the systems. The essential capabilities in a simple local MIS system--the ability to retrieve, aggregate, and display data--are discussed. A case study of the systems development activities of a director of institutional research at a small private institution in Texas (Trinity University) describes the in-house development of an MIS that brings together and provides access to separately maintained information systems that had been implemented at Trinity at different times and for different purposes. (THC)