Computer Competency Program records

Collection — Box: 1

Identifier: RG-05-10-04

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

This collection includes planning documents, administrative files, and budgetary information from the Ball State University Computer Competency Program at Ball State University ranging from 1975 to 1992.

Scope and Contents

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).

Dates

Creation: 1975-1992

Language of Materials

Materials in English.

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open for research.

Historical Note

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.