MINUTES

UNIVERSITY TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE

February 4, 2002

 

 

Members Present:                                         Others Present:

Chairperson Richard Crosby                          Terry Smith

Scott Bennett                                                 Kathy Hughes

Zella Boulware                                               John Sharp

Kathy Brown                                                 Lance Taylor

Vice Chairperson Hank Camp                       Tony Turrin

Andrew Farkas                                 

Larry Daniel                                                  

David Jaffee                                                  

Diane Tanner                                                 

Jerry Merckel                                                          

Judy Perkin

Rick Roberts

Fred Sudler – representing Jeff Michelman

Diane Tanner

 

Chairperson Crosby convened the University Technology Committee meeting at 10:05AM in the College of Business Administration InTuition Conference Room.

 

1.                  Announcements

No announcements.

 

2.                  Distance Learning Action Team Report

David Jaffee reported that the Distance Learning Action Team is reviewing BlackBoard’s course life cycle, on-line quizzes and tutors, and the national promotion of UNF’s Distance Learning program.  He also stated that the web survey committee had been reconvened and Tony Turrin will chair this group.  He reported that Debbie Abbott is heading up a committee to look at an alternative for quiz server. 

 

3.                  Mac Action Team Report

Chairperson Crosby reported that there is still no chairperson for this Action Team.  Allison Cruess has been charged to call this group together and they may hold “virtual” meetings.

 

4.                  I2 Action Team Report

Lance Taylor reported that the Action Team had met with Dave Pokorney and other NERDC staff to discuss UNF’s participation in I2. 

 

 

 

5.                  Academic Technology & Support Services Committee Report

Kathy Brown reported that the Committee is still hearing status reports from various campus units.  There was no January meeting; however, items from the December meeting include the following: 

(a)    The Committee expressed strong support of maintaining desktop currency.

(b)   Based on comments from faculty, the Committee would like to know if there is some better way to communicate system problems to faculty other than through email after hours (as that method may be inaccessible).  A discussion ensued where the possibility of a “system status” hotline phone number with a recorded message was mentioned.  Lance Taylor and Kathy Hughes will review options and report back to the UTC.

 

6.                  Network Acceptable Use Action Team

Kathy Brown will be chairing this Action Team.  The committee members have been selected and the first meeting is scheduled for February 26th. 

 

7.                  Information Technology Security Action Team

Lance Taylor reported for Bill McSherry (in his absence) that the committee has been charged and is looking at issues to be dealt with right away.  Other

issues will be pursued following this first round.

 

8.                  Budget Reductions

Chairperson Crosby reported that there had been a series of budget reduction plan meetings held and a final document has been approved.  There will be an 8.77% cut to non-instructional budgets as of July 1st.  Listed below are items that affect the UTC:

 

a.      Reduce the Currency allocation by 50%                       $300,000

b.      Eliminate the Touchtone Registration System                $  36,300

c.      General Administrative Cuts in Computing Services      $  20,000

d.      Eliminate OPS Network Assistant                               $  12,000

e.      Reduce Paper & Printer Supplies by 30%                    $  30,000

f.      Eliminate Maintenance on DEC Alpha Servers              $  22,500

g.      Eliminate Vacant Line on Student Records Team          $  39,557

h.      Cut OPS Allocations for College Labs                         $     8,270

i.      Eliminate Web Administration & OPS Web Asst.          $  61,637

j.      Cut Student/Faculty/Staff Dial-In Lines by 37%             $  17,000

k.      Reduce Help Desk Hours by 15%                               $  25,000

l.      Reduce Hours in General Purpose Labs                        $  15,000

 

Due to the major cut in the currency allocation, Chairperson Crosby requested that the Associate Deans discuss this at their upcoming meeting on February 12th.  He also requested that if anyone had questions or input, to please email either Lance Taylor, Kathy Hughes or himself.

9.                  Unix/Linux Migration

Kathy Hughes reported that over Christmas, the DEC Alpha servers were moved over to 4 new Dell servers.  Everything appears to be stable with the servers; however, there is still a problem with connectivity between the servers that is being taken care of.

 

10.              Official Business Coming to Students Via Email

Chairperson Crosby reported that he would like the UTC’s formal approval of the above policy so that it can be forwarded to Acting President David Kline for his approval.  Following discussion, the document was changed as follows:

 

      Under Policy in the second set of bullets – number one bullet. 

·        where practical and cost effective, University service units and academic units (Admissions, Registrar, Financial Aid, Controller, e.g.) may …..

 

A motion was made by Donna Mohr to approve the amended policy.  This was seconded by Larry Daniel.  The motion passed unanimously. 

 

11.              Access/Lockdown Review

Chairperson Crosby reported that approximately $1,600,000 in stolen property was reported by State Agencies following the recent activities of a theft ring.  All projectors that UNF lost were replaced as most were covered by insurance.  Dan Endicott is currently working on a policy regarding this and Mr. Crosby will continue to update the UTC.

 

12.              ISP/ITN

Lance Taylor reported that he had 7 responses to the ISP invitation to bid.  One bid was disqualified.  The committee has narrowed the field to 2 vendors and are developing questions for their campus visits.  He stated that this project is on schedule with a probable award in May.  Once the vendor has been selected, it will take approximately 60 to 90 days to implement. 

 

13.              ERP

Chairperson Crosby reported that four institutions now jointly make up a Consortium for the ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) solution for a new financial system (Finance, Payroll and Human Resources systems).  They are:  the University of North Florida, University of West Florida, University of Florida and Florida State University.  The ITN will probably be on the street this week.  It is expected that a new system will be acquired by early Fall 2002 with a two-year implementation phase. 

 

A consultant has been hired to coordinate the ITN process, assist with the evaluation, assist with selection and negotiation and form the foundation for implementation.  A committee has been set up to work with the Consultant.  This group includes:  Richard Crosby, Ricky Arjune, Scott Bennett, Joann Campbell, Lance Taylor, Linda Anderson, Leslie Mizell, Rick Powell, Deb Kaye and Bill McSherry.  Additional members to be added include one Dean and representatives from the other two divisions (currently without representation).  On Friday of this week, the Consultant will be on campus for a one-day Vision Development Workshop with the above committee. 

 

14.              Energy Savings Proposal

Lance Taylor reported that the proposal attached to the agenda (Configuring Computers to Turn Off During Periods of Inactivity) provide guidelines for the shutdown of desktop computers (he stressed that this does not include the servers).  The proposal is to shut down monitors after 15 minutes of inactivity and hard drives after 30 minutes of inactivity – although it would be up to the individual’s preference.  It was also recommended that all faculty/staff desktop computers be manually powered off at night.  A pilot group is currently testing this and have reported no problems – and it is currently being done in the general purpose computer labs with no problems.  Following discussion, it was agreed that this recommendation should be sent out to the University community.

 

15.              Other Business

a.      Judy Perkin asked if something could be done to stop the junk email that’s

being received.  There are filters that can be set up on each machine.  Chairperson Crosby asked that Lance Taylor, Kathy Hughes & the C-Techs check with counterparts to see if other institutions have developed/implemented a procedure as suggested above. 

b.      Judy Perkin asked if there was a policy on college-specific class labs being used by other colleges (in terms of the equitability of the policy).  Hank Camp reported that a policy was being developed on academic classrooms (room code 110). 

 

The meeting was adjourned at 11:20am.