SIUC Computing Advisory Committee

 

Meeting Minutes of 06 March 2001

 

Those present: Ruth Bernhardt, James Duggan (recorder), J.P. Dunn, Andrew Lumpe, Don Olson (ex-officio), Don Rice, Kerry Sandberg, Larry Schilling, Chih-Fang Wang. Guest: Robert Baer.

 

Don Olson reported on continuing efforts to obtain a site license for the University campus from Microsoft.The license would provide access to MS Office Professional and other MS software applications for all faculty/staff computers and computers purchased with University monies (i.e., lab computers and university-provided computers in student offices). /span>The programs would be pre-loaded on newly purchased equipment, and additional CD's would be purchased to allow software updating on existing computers at the college or departmental level. The details of the license agreement are being worked out through Olga Weidner's office in IT.Don suggested that he hoped to have details worked out by April 1.

 

Don also reported on the Internet2 activities. Both Don and attended an initial Internet2 committee meeting chaired by Geoff Nathan, and Don mentioned that April 25, 2001 would be an Internet2 Day, with demos and displays of Internet2 connectivity available for the academic community to attend.Doug Van Houweling from Internet2 may be on campus to help promote Internet2 to SIUC.Geoff is continuing to work on an NSF grant application that, if successful, would help pay for some of the costs associated with Internet2 (various fees and dues required by our membership).

 

Don indicated updated the group on the IBM Mainframe upgrade.Apparently SIUE has dropped out of plans to upgrade their mainframe.This means that SIUC will go with a somewhat smaller model, but it will provide us with plenty of growth space on the system.Don also indicated that SIUC will be purchasing a newer tape drive system, and he hopes to have it installed by mid-April.

 

Don also suggested that it is time to gear up for the Undergraduate Technology Fee Committee, which allocates the undergraduate technology fee monies to various college and departmental requests. James Duggan promised to "nudge" Chancellor Jackson on getting the committee formed.James reported on a memo from Geoff Nathan outlining recommendations for revising the Committee's procedures.Recommendations included: 1) Being specific about the kinds of items that should be included in requests for funding (i.e, vendor brands of computers, whether or not personnel costs could be requested, etc.); 2) developing a specif request format, and requiring detailed explanations; 3) developing procedures to dealing with changed circumstances after requests are submitted (lower costs, etc.) 4) Procedures for adjusting amounts when special opportunities arise; and 5) addressing the lack of student participation on the committee.

 

The Committee then considered a proposal from Katherine Plesko, of Disability Support Services, that was submitted by Seymour Bryson, who serves (among other duties) as the ADA Campus Coordinator. The proposal advocates the creation of a administrative/professional computer information specialist position that would have expertise in adaptive technology.After discussion, Don Olson suggested that this proposal might be better considered when looking at the computing strategic plan for the University.The proposal was thus taken under advisement, with the direction to the Strategic Planning Subcommittee that it consider the proposal when it meets.

 

James Duggan reported that the CAC still did not have a second USG member ; he had contacted Bill Archer (USG President) but received no response. James will either wait until a new USG President is named (and ask for the additional representative), or contact one of the undergraduate student groups such as ACM or FITE (Future Information Technology Experts) (suggested by Kerry Sandberg).

 

James announced the members of the Strategic Planning (Long Range Plan) subcommittee (chaired by Don Olson).Members selected by the CAC include Ruth Bernhardt, Phillip Chu, J.P. Dunn, and Dick Steffen.Margaret Winters appointed the following college-level representatives to the subcommittee: Brian Kearney, James Tyrell, Vallath Chandrasekhar, Bruce Fisher, Mary Rudasill, Andrew Lumpe, and Claudia McIntyre.

 

The next meeting was set for Tuesday, April 10, 2001 at 8:30 am in the American Heritage Room (305) of Morris Library.