Those attending: Al Allen, David Blakesley, J.P. Dunn, Skip Hardenburg, Duke Koch, Dennis Leitner, Geoff Nathan, Carolyn Snyder, Mike Wainer
Al Allen began with a description of a survey that IT has commissioned. It will look at the current state of computing on campus, looking particularly at roles, products and standards on campus. It will go first to directors, deans and chairs, civil service units, then to students. Carolyn suggested that the Committee should have some input on the questions being asked. David Blakesley suggested that the surveyors explain to those being surveyed what use would be made of the results.
Al also announced that the University has purchased a site license for Dr. Solomon virus software. The license is valid for all faculty, staff and students, both at home and at work, and will run on six different platforms. It will be available at first on the FTP server, but will later be placed on the CD-ROM being distributed at the bookstore.
IT is currently reviewing its software standards, particularly considering whether to continue supporting older operating systems, such as Windows 3.X and DOS. Current standards can be seen on the Customer Service Website.
There are now about 60 ethernet connections in the dorms at Thompson Point, with the possibility of adding a fairly large additional number. The cost is $45 per semester. In addition, there are now a number of 56K modems available for the East Campus dorms. Although there are only about 80 subscribers at present, there is room for up to 1000 total subscribers. The cost is $35 per semester.
IT has learned that attacks similar to the invasion of our campus have recently occurred at other universities.
The university is about to receive a large grant of Technology Enhancement Funds, which will be administered by Vice Chancellors Jackson and Tweedy, on a roughly 2/3--1/3 basis. IT plans to use the funds to upgrade equipment in the CLC's, the basic INTERNET connection and perhaps replace some networking hardware. There is also some discussion of using some funds to pay for such equipment as hubs and routers, which departments have recently been paying for.
In response to a question Al noted that most new computer connections use ethernet technology, and IT is investigating the possibility of 56K connections for off-campus users, probably through Midwest Internet or a similar provider. At the moment only people in the Carbondale local dialing area are likely to be included.
Geoff introduced a list of issues that had arisen out of talks with Jo Ann Argersinger and her staff in a recent meeting. One suggestion was to investigate differential technology fees for different majors, on the grounds that different fields might have differing requirements for computer power, software etc. David Blakesley suggested that we leave it up to individual departments to make the decision as to which fields had special, more expensive hard- and software requirements.
A second suggestion made by Chancellor Argersinger was that we consider offering computers as part of a scholarship program. In investigating this Geoff reported he had spoken with Barry Eiland in the Physicians' Assistant program, which not only requires that all second-year students use computers, but provides them with notebooks, pre-equipped with combined ethernet/modem cards, allowing them to venture out into the field to do their work, but send and receive homework assignments remotely.
We also discussed a suggestion to organize the recycling of computers into a kind of food-chain. Several people pointed out that most heavy computer-using departments already recycle their computers to the point that there is nothing usable left when they are finally surplussed.
Skip Hardenburg suggested that the CAC worked best when it had a specific charge, such as the long-range plan that we wrote last year, and suggested we think of particular issues to study. Some suggestions included looking at classroom teaching support technology and updating the long-range plan. Geoff agreed to give this some thought.