[1486] in Public-Access_Computer_Systems_Forum
Presidents and Info Tech.
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Bernie Sloan)
Thu Oct 15 17:30:19 1992
Date: Thu, 15 Oct 1992 16:22:55 CDT
Reply-To: Public-Access Computer Systems Forum <PACS-L%UHUPVM1.BITNET@mitvma.mit.edu>
From: Bernie Sloan <AXPBBGS%UICVMC.BITNET@mitvma.mit.edu>
To: Multiple recipients of list PACS-L <PACS-L%UHUPVM1.BITNET@mitvma.mit.edu>
----------------------------Original message----------------------------
Just wanted to pass along a bit of information to the academic library
administrators and college and university information technology managers
on the list. Thought you might be interested in the following.
According to the Chronicle of Higher Education, the Higher Education
Information Resources Alliance (a coaltion of ARL, CAUSE and EDUCOM)
is sending out a mailing to nearly 4,000 college and university presi-
dents, encouraging them to take a leadership role "in developing strate-
gies for using technology to improve administration and teaching".
The Chronicle notes that the mailing includes a "checklist of 11 things
presidents should do to make sure that their campuses are prepared for
the future". My summary/paraphrase of the 11 points follows:
1. Set up an effective campus network.
2. Coordinate information resources at a fairly high administrative
level. This is to help coordinate the activities of campus de-
partments and agencies that have traditionally been fairly
independent of one another (e.g., library and computer center?).
3. Help library administrators work towards developing ACCESS to
information resources, in addition to the more traditional
acquisitions-based library activities.
4. Involve faculty and staff who will be impacted by information
technologies.
5. Encourage people to use "information-rich databases and new modes
of interaction in the teaching/learning process". Sort of reminds
me of the Earlham College DIALOG experiment.
6. Provide seed money to help get innovative projects off the ground.
7. Encourage the use of computer conferencing to enhance discussion
on campus.
8. Consider information technology resources to be a "vital capital
asset", an infrastructure that needs maintained and upgraded
in the same way as any other physical asset.
9. Make sure that any investments in technology are accompanied by
cost-benefit analyses and mechanisms for assessing the projects.
10. In today's fiscal picture, you can't fund new programs or strategies
without taking a hard look at old programs and strategies. Limited
or fixed resources will require reallocation of funds and shifting
of priorities before new programs can be undertaken.
11. "Move aggressively toward paperless administration". The report
estimates that publishing and printing activities can use 15% to
20% of campus operating budgets.
It might be a good idea to read the overview in the Chronicle (October
14, p. A19-A20) in the event that your administration takes the report
to heart.
Bernie Sloan
