2.0 Objectives and Implementation Goals

This section describes objectives and implementation goals for administrative computing support. It is divided into sections that discuss objectives for providing user services and implementation goals for administering the provision of these services.

2.1 Service Objectives

• Data should be available to users in many different ways.

  Users should be able to:

  • View data from a display screen, selecting only the portion of reports or files of interest. Facilities should be available to support selective display and printing of information and to discourage printing entire reports when only selected information is needed.
  • Update data at the point of origination, to insure timely update and facilitate the data accuracy and integrity.
  • Communicate with other users via electronic mail, receive output via electronic mail, and access online directories to find the electronic-mail addresses.

• Have data readily available for use in local systems as a result of SQL requests or via downloading;

• Standard Interfaces should be supported to provide access to remote databases.

The concept of a "Single System Image" (SSI) has received much attention within the University. SSI associates the user interface (system image) with the system supplying the data. With SSI, the user can access a variety of network-based databases residing on one or more systems by use of a common interface. This approach makes it much easier for a user to use system based in different environments. To insure authorization for remote access and to facilitate appropriate accounting, new systems should support a chosen, industry standard approach for authentication.

One means of facilitating a single system image is by use of a client/server environment. Client/server projects utilizing SQL are underway in several university locations. Additionally, as the University has adopted Gopher and Worldwide Web (WWW) as the means of providing access to a wide variety of policy and informational materials, gopher/mosaic clients on user workstations should be widely available.

2.2 Implementation Goals

• The administrative computing function should be responsive to technological innovation that is consistent with the directions of the academic community. In identifying appropriate administrative computing technological directions, the technology of choice of the library and research communities should be considered.

• The University should maximize the benefits from its technology investments and streamline administrative functions associated with the use of technology. In reviewing the costs and benefits of various technology options, the full costs of alternative environments and architectures should be recognized. Opportunities to utilize software and hardware to increase staff effectiveness must be given careful consideration in order to maximize benefits.

• University-wide standards for the communication and use of data should be based upon applicable national standards.

  Developing comprehensive University-wide standards ensures effective communication throughout the University and increases the availability and usability of information. Adopting national standards ensures effective communications between the University and other institutions--educational, governmental, or commercial--throughout the country and facilitates access to large amounts of usable information available by the University community.

• Connections to the Internet should be maintained and use of the federally established national Internet network should be facilitated for appropriate administrative purposes.

  The federally funded research and educational network could, for example, provide some student services that are currently provided both electronically and via the U.S. Postal Service. Outreach and course articulation, in particular, could be facilitated by using the networks.

• The privacy of enhanced mail services should be assured.

  Enhanced mail services involve the exchange of mail between dissimilar systems. Security should be implemented to allow system and network access only by authorized individuals. Mail should be stored in cases of network outage; and users should be kept informed about University policy on use of and confidentiality of electronic mail.

• A standard means of user authentication should be adopted.

  Authentication is a means of identifying the clientele for a computer system so that eligibility to use the system can be verified. Authentication can also be used as the basis of tracking services used, when needed. It ensures that each workstation acting as a host identify itself accurately. This is particularly critical when a large number of workstations use a variety of systems.

• The rates for computing and networking services should depend on the types of service and be simple to administer.

• Security

  Measures should be established to insure maintenance of appropriate levels of data security.

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