Office of Information Technology

Technology Advisory Board (TAB)
Minutes of Meeting of February 16, 2000

Location: Andy Holt Tower, 4th floor conference room
Time: 2:00 - 3:00 pm

Attendance

Members: Allen Cain, Will Carver, Jim Gehlhar, Faye Muly, Surya Singh, Ken Walker, Clifton Woods.
Others: Bill Britten Chris Cimino, Frances Fogerson, Nancy Gnilka, Susan Metros, Linda Painter, Stan Pinkleton, Judy Travis.

Discussion 1: Report from Technical Advisory Board Budgetary Plan Subcommittee

Muly reviewed highlights of the report and emphasized the proposed budget for FY01 is a balanced one. She noted the original plan was for a three-year period, but was now amended to one year for practical reasons. While there are six general goals listed on the report, Muly called attention to the first one, calling for "innovation and enhancement of information technologies rather than on-going operating expenses."

Pinkleton described the goals for Student Support Services and Enhancements. These include both live webcasts of campus events and archives for later playback, expanded statistical consulting for graduate students, enhanced training and a new training center in Presidential Court, continuation of walk-in and telephone support, and provision of reduced-price software. Pinkleton noted that currently 1,000 students have registered for training. Additionally, his unit is pursuing acquisition of Norton Anti-virus software because it appears, at this point in the review process, we might be able to distribute it for the same cost as the current software (which is limited to 10,000 students).

Metros reviewed the goals for the Academic Technology Facility and Instructional Technology Enhancements. She particularly emphasized the expansion of the CourseInfo user base which has 7,000 users currently. The Development Lab has moved to larger rooms and will explore offering video editing and securing vendor evaluation units. Other goals include collaborating with other campus units to expand course management technologies, coordinating 20 mini-grants of $500 each, pursuing funding for a technology-mediated Spanish course (impacting 2,000 students), supporting additional mobile technology carts, and installing a "smart classroom" in a renovated Claxton lecture hall.

Muly described goals for network access including rewiring of Hodges Library. One feature will be ports for student use of their personal laptop computers. Upgrading of networking support for open-access labs at other campus locations is also a goal, along with upgrading backbone segments in selected buildings.

Discussion 2: Other

Other discussion included issues of staffing and aging equipment as addressed in the budget portion of FY01 funding report. There was also a question concerning the status of the Banner implementation. There was no new information on the Banner system to report at this time.

The next meeting will be at 2:00 pm, March 15, 2000 in the 4th floor conference room of Andy Holt Tower.

Minutes prepared by: Frances Fogerson