University Committee on Computer Policy and Utilization (University of Michigan) records, 1964-1979

Committee files consisting of reports, correspondence, minutes, and subject files; also files relating to Educom, a corporation established to promote collaboration in the development, operation, and use of technology in higher education and research.

The records of the University Committee on Computer Policy and Utilization (4 linear feet) cover the years from 1964 to 1979 and include reports, correspondence, minutes, and subject files. The records are divided into two series, Committee Files and EDUCOM Files. The records in both series are arranged in alphabetical order by topic.

Committee Files

The Committee Files series (3.5 linear feet) consists of records detailing all aspects of the committee's work from 1964 to 1979. The Ad Hoc Computing Advisory Committee folder documents the predecessor to the UCCPU, and includes a section of its 1964 report (Machine Computation at the University of Michigan). A major part of the documentation in this series is composed of requests for computer purchases from various departments of the university. The minutes contain committee members' evaluations of the requests and, prior to 1971, the requests themselves are included in the minutes. The majority of computer requests came during the 1970s, however, and are found in folders marked Computer Requests.

The Correspondence files include communication between the vice president for research, the chairman of the committee, members of the committee, and university faculty. The minutes provide a comprehensive look at the changing issues faced by the committee. The minutes folders also contain valuable background materials on the issues discussed at each meeting.

The Dearborn files document long-range planning for that campus, particularly the concern over whether to create a stand-alone Data Systems Center or connect with the Data Systems Center in Ann Arbor. The Flint files document the development of the computer resources at the Flint campus, and primarily relate to the 1974 proposal to create a communications link with Ann Arbor to the Computing Center and the Data Systems Center.

The Hierarchical Computing at the University of Michigan and Hierarchical Networking files might be of special interest to the researcher. Materials contained in them document the important transition from a monolithic computing center at the university to the distributed network system that was eventually created.

The Merit files consist of reports on educational computing at the University of Michigan and Wayne State University. Material in the Survey files was compiled in response to a 1975 request of Charles Overberger to the UCCPU to survey the current computer planning activities for university units. The purpose of the surveys was to compile data to be used in planning and funding during the following five years. Of special interest in the materials generated by UCCPU'S Subcommittees are those which pertain to minicomputers, computer ethics, and copyright. Such materials document issues of concern to users of the university's computer facilities.