Content area
Full Text
As a student, I remember in the mid-1980's when in math class we all were amazed at the new game we got to play on our Apple II's, "Lemonade." To us, it was a game: specify a number of glasses of lemonade to make, at a sale price, watch the weather to see if it was sunny or rainy (this increased or lowered your sales), maybe spend some money on a sign for advertising, and, make more money than your lab partner as you played. Today I know that it was strategic planning in its simplest form. We were managing a system with a limited number of both inputs and outputs. The system wasn't closed, which allowed for some excitement every once in awhile.
Virtual UL is simulation software that allows the user to manage a virtual university or college. It is "Lemonade" at its most complex: a highly permeable system to be managed with multiple inputs, outputs and a wide variety of possible outcomes. Virtual U -succeeds in capturing aspects of the complexities of simultaneously managing the day-to-day academic, fiscal, human resource and enrollment management operations of an institution of higher education while strategically planning for the future.
The simulation is terrifically complex, modeling six areas of university management very well: resource allocation and finance; academic operations; faculty roles and responsibilities; enrollment management; sponsored research; and physical plant activities. In running a variety of simulations with the software (urban research university, rural college, etc.) it appeared that all of the areas modeled were founded upon economic variables that measure success: keeping your virtual university in the black, and retaining your position as President.
In this way, Virtual UO is...