SIUC Computing Advisory Committee

 

Meeting Minutes of 13 February 2001

 

Those present: Ruth Bernhardt, Philip Chu, James Duggan (recorder), James Fox, James Fry, Andrew Lumpe, Don Rice, Kerry Sandberg, Larry Schilling, Dick Steffen, Kelly Thomas, Chih-Fang Wang. Guests: Pam Brandt, Glen Poshard, Margaret Winters.

 

The minutes of the 23 January2001 meeting were approved.

 

Pam Brandt presented a proposed pc vendor replacement plan that would be sent out for bids by various national pc vendors in late spring, 2001.The proposal, which was circulated to CAC members, added the following components to the contract (currently with Dell): 1) more than one computer model (two laptops, three desktops, servers, printers); 2) offer both purchase and three year lease options; 3) faculty/staff/student purchase options; and 4) possible Microsoft Office site license.Glen Poshard indicated that while the University would like to replace computers every three years, this was the best approach under the circumstances. Don Rice expressed concerns about the lack of funding on a campus wide basis for computers, especially for colleges under the decentralized plan.Larry Schilling asked about how site licenses were being used on campus (and mentioned the work of IT's Olga Weidner).Other questions were raised about warranty specifications, and whether or not there would be contracts with multiple vendors. Pam Brandt responded that warranty specifications were not yet listed, and the university would have to wait and see what responses they received from interested vendors.The plan was approved by consensus of the CAC.

 

Pam also reported that Geoff Nathan was currently writing an NSF grant application to help fund the Internet2. Don Rice urged that the Internet2 Committee look into a publicity campaign to raise the awareness of Internet2 among faculty, staff and students on campus. Connections to the network through the Illinois Century Network are scheduled to be completed by April.

 

Margaret Winters reported on her ideas for the CAC, including 1) a focus on academic computing (which she hopes to encourage by the formation of an Academic Computing Subcommittee); 2) universal classroom connectivity (perhaps as the campus' first steps toward wireless networking; 3) a look at the notion of portals (i.e., perhaps promote a scholar's portal on campus -- as a place to view refereed sites on the web); 4) deal with the handed-down/surplus property problem with older computer equipment; 5) training on campus for academic applications (especially for faculty and staff); 6) site licenses and how these are being promoted on campus; 7) promoting Internet2; 8) Recognizing personnel who act as computer support on campus (i.e., those faculty/staff who do not have this function in their normal job description).

 

The CAC discussed the role of a possible academic computing subcommittee in the framework of the CAC.Some members felt that this subcommittee would be duplicating what the CAC does (or should be doing); others felt that the subcommittee would be a good idea.James Duggan invited any member of the CAC who wanted to serve on such a subcommittee to let him know, and he would send the names to Dr. Winters.

 

The next meeting was set for Tuesday, March 6, 2001 at 8:30 am in the American Heritage Room (305) of Morris Library.

 

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