Intricacy and Impacts of Computing Policies on University Campuses

T. C. Ting

• Introduction
• 1. An Interlocking System of Technology and Human Action
• 2. Planning Computer Usage for Educational Systems
• 2.1 The Issue of Planning
• 2.2 Conciliating opposing Viewpoints and Interests
• 2.3 Planning and Managing Change
• 3. Organizational Changes and Their Potential Implications
• 3.1 Organizational, Structural and Operational Changes
• 3.2 Potential Changes in Educational Programs
• 4. Conflicts Between the Individual’s Right to Privacy and the Organization’s Need to Process Information
• 5. Difficulties in Developing and Adopting Conventions and Standards
• 6. Summary

6. Summary

The subject of a campus computing policy is so complex that no definitive statement could possibly be made at this time. It not only affects the operations and usages of computing and communications systems, but it has an enormous effect on the educational system itself. At present, there are very few, if any, explicit computing policy statements on American campuses.

The intricacy and difficulties of developing a computing policy have been clearly demonstrated by Leslie Burkholder’s presentation about the development of a Code of Computer Ethics on a university campus. My panel discussion is based on his presentation; and I am attempting, in a modest manner, to identify and explain some of the issues relevant to the development of a campus computing policy. Just a few obvious issues have been mentioned for the purpose of motivating more discussions during the panel session.

Computer technology itself will not create issues. It is the organization’s computing policy and its way of allocating resources which will determine the speed and nature of possible impacts. New tools are introduced for obtaining a desired benefit and the costs associated with such a decision must be considered. The impacts of adopting powerful computer tools are enormous and may cause institutional changes. It is my hope that this panel session will serve to clarify some issues and raise more questions – and explain some of the many dimensions of this complex and highly important subject.

University of Connecticut

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