Microcomputers in Graduate School Administration: The Design and Implementation of a Computerized Relational Data Base System for Monitoring Graduate Education

Abstract

This article discusses the design and practical applications of a relational data base system to monitor activities related to graduate education. The system was designed for a multi-user microcomputer in a graduate school of a large research university, and there is a discussion of the various technical and administrative/political problems which were encountered during the design process The following practical applications are also discussed: preparing informational reports and p r e jections, monitoring student status, assisting graduation services, preparing departmental profiles, and researching matters related to student recruitment and retention.In many universities, the graduate education enterprise involves an extensive administrative process, including recruitment, admissions, registration, and degree monitoring, as well as the promotion of scholarship and quality throughout the university. The need for computerization in this process has grown tremendously, especially in institutions that have graduate schools which administer many of these activities related to graduate education.Recently, one of the authors of this article published a study on the analysis of faculty and administrative support of a data base system to monitor graduate 91 0 1986, Baywood Publishing Co., Inc.

A Database for Monitoring Curricular Changes in Graduate Academic Departments

“…Sandberg has emphasized the use of relational databases to satisfy both of these requirements [4]. Malaney has reiterated their importance, especially in the use of microcomputers in university administration [2]. And, since that type of structure had already been implemented with other data at the Graduate School, it was only logical to continue with the same software for the course database.…”