MINUTES

UNIVERSITY TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE

April 2, 2001

 

Members Present:                          Others Present:

Chairperson Richard Crosby                Kathy Brown

Vice Chairperson Tom Serwatka             Kathy Hughes

Scott Bennett                             Scott Piersall

Zella Boulware                            Judy Solano

Larry Daniel                              Lance Taylor

Andrew Farkas                             Tony Turrin

David Jaffee                             

Bruce Kavan                              

Jeff Michelman

Donna Mohr

Martha Rader

Rick Roberts

Diane Tanner

 

Chairperson Crosby convened the University Technology Committee meeting at 10:05 a.m. in the COBA InTuition Conference Room.

 

1.                Announcements

There were no announcements for this meeting.

 

2.                Distance Learning Action Team (DLAT)

David Jaffee reported that the DLAT had met last week.  They are continuing to assemble resources for the Distance Learning Handbook (which will have both internal an external links).  A demo will be presented at the next UTC meeting and it should be fully up and running by the Fall term.

 

3.                Mac Action Team

Zella Boulware reported that that Mac Action Team met on March 26th and provided the following update:

a.    Microsoft Office 2001 is now available for distribution. 

b.    The committee discussed the use of the Mac Lab II for scheduled classes, individual use and training workshops.  The consensus of the committee was that there would be les demand for this lab in the future.

c.    The committee discussed the availability of copyright-free music or license availability on campus.  Any concerns or information about this issue should be sent to Michael Rutledge (who is investigating the issue).

d.    The committee discussed ideas for increasing enrollment in the Mac workshops offered by Computing Services.  It was their suggestion to advertise specifics of the workshops, set up more demos to advertise advances to attending the workshops, take the workshops to the clients and identify specific needs.

e.    The committee is also interested in investigating the procedures by which software selections are made for the campus.

 

4.                Academic Technology & Support Services Committee

Bruce Kavan reported that the committee had met last Monday.  The Distance Learning policy had been pulled back by the Executive Committee to have additional key points incorporated.  It is expected that the updated version of the policy will pass through the approval process. 

 

A subcommittee has been formed to look at the software acquisition process on campus and review the Faculty Enhancement Center. 

 

5.                I2

Lance Taylor reported that this group met last week to review opportunities for grant proposals from the National Science Foundation.  The group will be contacting their colleagues in the colleges to see if there is interest in developing a grant proposal.

 

6.                Strategic Issues Action Team (SIAT)

Richard Crosby reported that the SIAT had met two weeks ago.  There are two attachments with today’s agenda:  (a) Strategic Technology Issues; and (b) Review of Problems and Issues – 1992 Information Technology Strategic Plan (initially developed by Donna Mohr).  He would like the UTC members to review these two documents and provide input (by email) to Donna Mohr with a copy to Richard Crosby. 

 

7.                Education Governance Reorganization

Richard Crosby reported that the President has tasked a group to work on the transition.  This is the current Associates Group (Associate Vice Presidents) plus Karen Stone, Scott Bennett, Wendy Morris, Janet Owen, Ricky Arjune & Deb Kaye.  Part of the charge to this group is developing a process for establishing policies.  Richard read through portions of the most recent Senate bill on the Education Governance Reorganization (SB2108C1).  There was some discussion of this Senate Bill especially sections that dealt with technology issues.  He suggested that everyone read this. 

 

Lance Taylor reported that he went with groups from the University of Florida, Florida State University and Florida Atlantic University to visit the University of Tennessee at Knoxville to look at how they planned the change to SAP Software (new financial system).  

 

8.                Currency

Richard Crosby stated that attached to the agenda was a handout on Currency Thresholds for 2001-2002 prepared by Kathy Hughes.  He also stated that last year we requested a total of $535,000 for currency allocation – and received only $452,000 (not all of which is recurring).  

 

Donna Mohr stated that there are some departments on campus that need a slightly higher level of currency.  Following discussion on this, it was agreed that Kathy Hughes provide Judy Solano (College of Computing Sciences & Engineering) with a copy of the current currency policy.  Richard Crosby will also discuss this issue with Tom Serwatka and Joann Campbell. 

 

9.                7% Budget

Attached to the agenda was a copy of the 2001-2002 7% Tuition Expenditure Draft Proposal.  Kathy Hughes discussed each of the items on the list.  Also attached to the agenda was a copy of a Bell South Traffic Study showing that the current need for dial-up lines has been dropping.  Kathy Hughes will do another survey during the week of April 16th and report back to the UTC at the next meeting.  There is a potential here to cut back on the number of dial-in lines and apply the savings to purchase bandwidth.  Richard also stated that he and Tom Serwatka would meet with Student Affairs to see if Housing could pick up some of the cost of the bandwidth in Housing.  Lance Taylor will survey the other SUS institutions on their use of free dial-up lines.  Kathy Hughes will report back to the UTC on the self-paced training to see if it’s being utilized. 

 

10.            2001-2002 Annual Budget Request

Richard Crosby stated that 2001-2002 E&G requests are due to the Budget Office on April 23rd.  He also stated that Administration & Finance will request funds for currency.

 

11.            General Purpose Lab Configuration

There was a discussion as to whether to replace the Mac’s in the 2nd floor Mac Lab with PC’s.  Kathy Hughes will set up a meeting to discuss this (including Donna Mohr, Larry Daniel, Zella Boulware and Gloria McCrea.  She will also do counts on the utilization of the Mac’s in this lab. 

 

12.            Other Issues

a.    There was a question regarding UTC meetings during the summer.  Richard Crosby stated that there will be meetings in June, July & August.  There will be no meeting in September (since the first Monday in September is Labor Day). 

b.    b. Judy Solano asked if there could be more machines put in the teaching labs (since they are being shared at the rate of one computer for two students.  Kathy Hughes will work directly with her on this.

 

The meeting was adjourned at 11:45am.