The emerging national information infrastructure is viewed as a solution to problems facing higher education, rather than as another drain on resources. Creative planning, reassessment of traditional models of campus organization, teaching, and learning, and creation of broad-based partnerships in public and private sectors will be required.…

Members of diverse information professions and disciplines have historically had different missions, methods, and areas of responsibility. However, the new technical knowledge common among them is fertile ground for collaboration through information technology. Successful collaborations are based on identification of a common goal, recognition of…

In the 1960s and early 1970s, statewide planning efforts usually resulted in plans for centralized hardware networks. The focus of statewide planning has shifted to the issue of improved computer financing, information sharing, and enhanced utilization in instruction, administration. A "facilitating network" concept and Missouri efforts…

Discusses the information technology (IT) staff shortage in higher education, and encourages collaboration between human-resource and information-technology professionals both on college campuses and at the professional-association level. Outlines some human resource development activities currently under consideration within two professional…

The importance of cooperative development among and exchange between university information systems is discussed. Cooperative developments in the California State University and Colleges System and exchange efforts between university systems in other states are described. (Author/BH)

As higher education institutions plan for the future, common agreement to build open distributed computing environments (DCE) using common standards such as those of the Open Software Foundation can help exploit new application design approaches that promote application sharing, a more efficient way of meeting upcoming challenges. (MSE)

The recipient of an award for leadership in information technology (IT) in higher education discusses some considerations in approaching IT use, including finding balance and avoiding burnout; transformations made possible by technology; problems and frustrations of rapid technological advance; organizational values and IT; and the manner in which…

Reasons for adopting Open Software Foundation (OSF) standards for distributed computing environments (DCE) within colleges and universities are examined. Adoption would promote interoperability across heterogeneous systems within and between institutions, aid in transition to client/server computing, and facilitate sharing and leveraging across…

Distributed data bases in statewide and multi-institutional systems are discussed. It is suggested that traditional approaches to data processing and current data base software are inappropriate for a distributed data base system. (BH)

As economic realities drive colleges and universities to reassess financial strategies for managing information technology investments, many will have to develop a new game plan, requiring: collaboration among academic, financial, and technical leaders; rejuvenation of the collective conventional wisdom; shift to life-cycle budgeting; emphasis on…

Two higher education professionals discuss cultural issues that separate librarians and information technology professionals, and inhibit enlightened leadership as their changing roles cause professional convergence. Guiding principles for the information professional are outlined: developing oneself and a new generation of leadership; recognizing…