from VCCA Journal, Volume 5, Number 1, Summer 1990, 50-52
© Copyright 1990 VCCA Journal
As I recall all of the Virginia Community Colleges Association (VCCA) conventions I have attended, I seem to remember that a bone of contention for many who attended was the lack of suitable communication tools to be able to quickly conduct the business of the Association during the subsequent academic year. Despite the availability of SCATS telephone lines and our much maligned U. S. Postal Service, conversations generally could only be held after much telephone tag, and sometimes mail was lost, mislaid or delivered too late.
Whereas the VCCA is not alone in seeking solutions to provide better communication capability, much of industry and, indeed, many colleges and universities have ameliorated this situation by utilizing electronic mailbox facilities. By invitation and subtle prodding by Dr. Cheryl Creager, the then President Elect of the VCCA, I found myself on the VCCA annual convention agenda held in Roanoke in October 1989. Suitably, my topic was "Introduction to IBM's Professional Office System (PROFS), and the Because It's Time Network, or BITNET."
I was fortunate to be able to be on the agenda twice for 50 minute presentations; this article recaps the concepts presented at the convention and develops salient points.
PROFS is touted by IBM as a communication tool which allows us to get accurate, complete, and timely information at the touch of a key--so an organization can arrive at decisions more efficiently and effectively. The Virginia Community College Network (VCCNet) purchased and installed this system several years ago. Currently, over 700 VCCS administrators, faculty, and staff are registered users of PROFS.
Besides having a valid log-on to access PROFS, users also need access to a 3270-type terminal or PC and minimal keyboarding skills. As the VCCS community continues to acquire more terminals and PC's at each campus, such equipment access is feasible for all, and keyboarding skill has come to be as necessary in today's world as a driver's license.
Functionally, PROFS allows users to
All of the PROFS systems are operating within the VCCS to some degree and learning these can be enjoyable. To facilitate this, each of the Virginia Community College System (VCCS) Regional Coordinators, including myself as Information Center Manager, is available for hands-on workshops at college locations and, of course, for continuing consultation.
The PROFS documentation includes the following.
Significantly, the VCCA has an established PROFS logon called VCCAOFCE that will be used by an outside management consultant to coordinate VCCA management functions. Additionally, a PROFS logon called VCCAMEET will be used to publicize all VCCA calendar events of the year. This calendar, like all PROFS calendars, can be viewed by any PROFS user.
BITNET is something else!
BITNET is a rapidly growing communications network that links over 2500 computers (nodes) at universities and research centers worldwide. Using PROFS, the VCCS can communicate with other systems and special academic interest groups all over the globe at no cost. Some of these groups include ISAAC--the Information System for Advanced Academic Computing; AIR--a newsletter for institutional research and planning personnel; XCULT-L--an international intercultural newsletter; SLART-L--second or foreign language acquisition; MEDNEWS-- a weekly summary of medical news; PSYCHNET--a weekly newsletter for the psychology community; and SCUP--a newsletter for people interested in college and university planning. The above is just a short list of the many groups available that can be subscribed to at no cost through BITNET, via PROFS.
The VCCS published the User's Guide to Accessing BITNET in August 1989. Copies of this document can be obtained from your college's data processing liaison person.
Information about PROFS is available that allows you to see a complete list of computer installations currently on BITNET. The name of the list is BITNODES.
BITNET is currently in transition. The management of both BITNET and CSNET, the network of computer science departments, voted in 1989 to merge into a single network called CREN, the Corporation for Research and Educational Networking. This merger provides a larger user base. So far, this merger has not caused the VCCS to make any changes in network access.
Richard J. Mendell is the Information Center Manager for the Virginia Community College System.