Unpredicted ways in which the use of computers has affected social interactions in colleges and universities are considered. Information was gathered from a literature review and from personal observations. One outcome of introducing computers into an academic or administrative unit is the development of alliances depending on prior experience with computers. Personal involvement with computing can be characterized by feelings of frustration. Personal communication channels can change due to the existence and use of computers, and particularly electronic mail. Increased efficiency resulting from computer usage has been an issue, along with the computing skills needed by secretarial and professional staff. Access to a computer can also reduce the need for typing and secretarial support by the faculty member. The implementation of computers on campuses has made training and selection of support staff more technical and complex. Evaluation of student learning can also be affected by computing. Managerial concerns include purchasing of hardware and software and maintenance costs. The unit within each campus most affected by recent trends in computing is the central data processing or computing center. Consumer behavior theory provides some additional insights concerning computer usage and its effects. 17 references. (SW)