Uses of personal computers, or microcomputers (micros), by college business offices are discussed, with attention to safeguards. An advantage of using micros is that business officers can develop their own applications with purchased software and need not depend on the data processing staff. The micros, which are located in the business office and are under its control, can be used for word processing or to develop and maintain work schedules, critical path analyses, and personal appointment calendars. Graphics software can aid in the preparation of many documents, and spreadsheet software creates an accountant's worksheet or matrix on the video display screen. Micros can also be used by administrators for budget modeling to create budget guidelines, and for special reports, including gift campaign summaries, unrestricted gifts and pledges, construction projects, debt service requirements, and present-value calculations for capital budgeting. Although a school should maintain most of its database on its mainframe computer or in a distributed data system network, administrators can use personal computers for selected data files. An example of a spreadsheet for the allocation of plant operation and maintenance costs to benefit cost objectives is included. (SW)