1
University Archives
RG 5/10/4
Analytical Studies & Planning, Computer Competency Program, Records, 1975 - 1992
4 boxes (1.4 cu. ft.)
Program History
The Computer Competency Program was first proposed to the Indiana legislature in
January, 1983. The program was conceived to accomplish six objectives:
1. Introduce the faculty across all disciplines to the teaching and learning
advantages of the computer and the computer’s power and flexibility as an
intellectual tool.
2. Increase computer accessibility and understanding for both students and
faculty.
3. Produce graduates who can use computers skillfully and effectively in their
professional careers and personal lives.
4. Create a knowledge base which can be transferred and applied within a broad
range of work settings within business, industry, government, and education.
5. Enhance the quality and richness of the learning experience, particularly at
the undergraduate level.
6. Establish Ball State University as a leader in the applied use of computers as
teaching and learning tools.
The goal of the program was not instruction where the computer was the focal point,
but rather teaching students and faculty how to use the computer as a tool.
The program was approved, but funding was delayed until July, 1984. Responsibility
for the program was assigned to the Director of Analytical Studies & Planning, Frank
Eikenberry, in January, 1985.
It was recognized by the Provost and college deans in the last half of 1984 that if the
goal of universal competency was going to be reached, the emphasis of the program
was going to have to be on required, discipline-specific, applied student use of
computers throughout the curriculum. This placed the full burden of the program on
the shoulders of the faculty. As a result, during its first five years the program
concentrated on building faculty skills and expertise, integrating computing into the
curriculum, building a foundation of software and hardware to directly support
instruction and advising, expanding student access to computing, and implementing
a campus-wide data communications network.
A university-wide and comprehensive computer competency course requirement for
all majors was vetoed in favor of the discipline-specific approach. In addition, the
computer-aided instruction was deemphasized and more attention and training
resources were placed on learning applications such as word processing,
spreadsheets, database management, and computer-aided design and graphics.
2
There was a clear mandate to the colleges, departments, and faculty to provide
realistic and meaningful computing experiences within as many courses as possible.
Most of the colleges revised existing, or introduced new, graduation requirements
incorporating a computer competency component.
In 1984 – 85, one course in every six involved the computer. By 1985 – 86, the
proportion had rise to one in five; and by 1986 – 87 one course in four. The 1985 –
87 Computer Competency Phase II Proposal stated goals of “more than 75 % of
faculty will have a competency level of computer familiarity; more than 50 % will
have a competency level which permits some use of the computer in their
instructional mission, and more than 25 % of the faculty will have a competency
level which permits extensive development and application of computer uses in the
instructional mission.” In 1984, Ball State achieved 70, 38 and 22 % respectively.
Data for 1986 indicated 80, 55 and 30 % respectively, with over 60% of the regular
faculty participating in formal computer competency development programs, short
courses, or workshops.
Sources: Computer Competency Phase III Report.
Scope & Content Note
Planning documents, budget files, correspondence, equipment inventories, status
reports, and related materials from the Computer Competency Program, a program
administered by the Office of Analytical Studies & Planning (later Planning, Academic
Systems, and Summer Sessions, 1990 - 93), a unit of Academic Affairs. The records
document the University’s planning, implementation and management of the
Computer Competency Program, an instructional effort to familiarize and immerse
faculty and students with computers and computing.
The records are divided into three (3) subgroups: Administrative Records,
Operational Records, and Special Records. Within the subgroups, records are
arranged in series by type of file. The file organization established by the creating
office has been more or less maintained. Within the series the records are arranged
in either alphabetic or chronological order.
The ADMINISTRATIVE RECORDS reflect administrative initiative, organization and
function, chronicling the Computer Competency Program’s development, structure,
policy formulation, planning, and reporting. Divided into four (4) series: Policy
Records, Executive Records, Planning Records, and Reports, the records provide a
timely portrait of the development of computing during the 1980s and the
University’s corresponding commitment to leverage it for pedagogical and research
purposes.
The second subgroup, OPERATIONAL RECORDS, document specific program
transactions and the implementation of program policies, including conflict
resolution, equipment orders, finances, and budgeting. As such, these records reveal
particular knowledge of the program’s operational functioning and development.
The third subgroup, SPECIAL RECORDS, provides historical context and documents
the Computer Competency Program’s predecessor program, the Computer
Instruction Program, administered by the University Computer Center (later
Computing Services, 1981 - 1986), part of the Office of the President (ca. 1968 –
1986).
3
Subjects
Computers
Computers and education
Computers and college students
Computers and literacy
Educational technology
Information Technology
Administrative Information
Acquisition Information:
Transferred to the University Archives in February, 2006, by Frank Eikenberry,
former Director of the Office of Analytical Studies & Planning.
Processing Information:
Processed by Daniel Hartwig, March, 2006.
Container List
Box
1
2
Folder Contents
ADMINISTRATIVE RECORDS, 1984 - 92
Policy Records
Policies
1
1984 – 86
2
1987- 88
Executive Records
Director’s Correspondence
3
1985 – 86
4
1987
5
1988
6
1989 – 92
Planning Records
7
Academic Microcomputing Applications Services Center
Computer Competency Plan
8
1984 – 85
9
1985 – 86
10
1986 - 89
1
1987 – 88
2
1988 – 97
3
Future of Program, 1988
Container List
Box
2
3
4
Folder Contents
4
5
6
7
ADMINISTRATIVE RECORDS, 1984 - 92 (cont’d)
Reports
Phase II Report
Phase III Report, 1988
Presentation & Video, 1988
Status Report, 1988 – 89
Videotape, 1988 (UAV 552)
4
5
6
7
OPERATIONAL RECORDS, 1985 - 89
Transactional Records
Accountability Study, 1985 – 88
Accounting Reports, 1988
Budget
1985 -86
1986 – 87
1987 – 88
1988 – 89
Conflict Resolution, 1986 – 89
Equipment Inventory, 1987 - 88
Evaluations, 1988 – 89
Intergraph System
Installation Plans, 1988 – 89
Maintenance
1986 - 87
1987 – 88
Personnel
Port & Equipment Allocations, 1987 - 88
8
SPECIAL RECORDS, 1975 - 78
Miscellaneous Historical Documents
Background Documents, 1975 - 78
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
1
2
3
4