Columbia University's major program to distribute its central administrative data processing to its various schools and departments is described. The Distributed Administrative Management Information System (DAMIS) will link every department and school within the university via micrcomputers, terminals, and/or minicomputers to the central administrative computers. Departments and schools can enter, track, control, and report administrative information. DAMIS will also provide local files at the department/school level and, when coupled with the university administrative databases, will satisfy the majority of their administrative information needs in an online environment. Past events since 1977, as well as future projections, are outlined for the following key databases: Human Resources Information Database, Student Information Database, Financial Accounting System, Alumni Records and Gift Information System, and Facilities Management Database. Details of the hardware/software are provided, and the capabilities of the system are identified. The sections of DAMIS are also described: department/school needs and capabilities that are satisfied/are not satisfied by university core systems, and integration of local (department/school) capabilities with university core system capabilities. (Author/SW)