Use of a Computerized Data Base for Monitoring Graduate Education: An Analysis of Faculty and Administrative Support

Abstract

Surveying faculty members and administrators of a large university, this article examines their attitudes and perceptions regarding the need for and potential use of a computerized data base for monitoring data related to graduate education. Also briefly discussed is the design of the data base, which is an innovative attempt, using a microcomputer, to collect and centralize as much information as possible pertaining to graduate education at a single institution. The primary purposes of the data base are to increase the efficiency of the Graduate School administration and to collect and generate data which can be used by academic departments for program improvements, including students recruiting activities. The results were overwhelmingly in support of the development of such a data base.