Office of Information Technology

Technology Advisory Board (TAB)
Minutes of Meeting of July 21, 1999

Location: Andy Holt Tower, 4th floor Conference Room
Time: 2:00 - 2:25pm

In Attendance

Will Carver, Matt Disney, Frances Fogerson, Jim Gehlhar, Nancy Gnilka, Sandy Goldston, Mark Hall, Ray Hamilton, Dewitt Latimer, Robin McNeil, Aubrey Mitchell, Joshua Morrison, Faye Muly, Mary Papke, Bill Park, Fernando Parrado, Surya Singh, Mark Spurlock, Kenneth Walker, Clifton Woods.

Discussion 1: DII Realignment

Muly announced that Joe Gipson, acting director of Telecommunications and Network Services (TNS), and Joel Dickens, head of Network Engineering, have resigned effective June 30, 1999. These changes caused a reevaluation of the services and organization of DII, which has resulted in a realignment of responsibilities along functional lines. The primary goal is to implement a customer-focused organization that will best serve the campus. Thus, a new Customer Services unit, headed by Stan Pinkleton, will be created to centralize all DII customer contacts, other than Telephone Services. Steve Keys will head the Telephone Services unit. A new unit, consolidating operations, management of the computing labs, and the computing, networking, and information systems infrastructure, will be headed by Dewitt Latimer.

Discussion 2: Y2K Update

Sandy Goldston, Information Security Specialist, described UTK's efforts to meet deadlines for Y2K compliance. She stated information, status reports, and important links are accessible through a web site linked to the university's home page. One feature of this site is a section that describes methods to determine the compliance of personal computers and provides sources for free updates. Additionally, Goldston is available to provide presentations for campus groups about Y2K readiness. Muly suggested TAB members share the Y2K information with their respective departments and contact Goldston for assistance in raising awareness of this issue.

Goldston reported people on campus seem to be most concerned about the status of administrative systems. To date, 35 systems are currently compliant, with the remaining 21 to be replaced, rewritten, or modified by September.

While an article highlighting campus Y2K efforts appeared in a summer issue of the Daily Beacon, it was suggested the article be repeated when Fall students return.

Discussion 3: TAB Sub-Committees

Gnilka reported some individuals asked to serve on sub-committees have yet to respond, but she expects to have the groups in operation within two weeks. The sub-committees will have five members each (3 students and 2 faculty/staff) and each group will select a chairperson. Because the Technology Advisory Board meets for only one hour each month, these subcommittees are expected to provide an opportunity for in-depth study of issues to bring to the Board for review.

Disney proposed the sub-committees provide preliminary reports no later than October.

Next Meeting

The next meeting will be August 18, 1999, 2pm - 3pm in the 4th floor conference room of Andy Holt Tower.

Minutes prepared by: Frances Fogerson