Office of Information Technology

Technology Advisory Board (TAB)
Minutes of Meeting of April 16, 2003

Location: 4th Floor Conference Room, Andy Holt Tower
Time: 2:00 - 3:00PM

Attendance:

Members: Bill Britten, Chris Cimino, Stephen Esposito, Jim Gehlhar, Ray Hamilton, James Hughes, Lori Jones, Bryce McKenzie, John Mount, Faye Muly, Marla Peterson, Kelly Price-Rankin, Luther Wilhelm for Fred Tompkins

Others: Michael Burke, Nancy Gnilka, Robin McNeil, Judy Travis

In Mr. Matthew Johnson’s absence, Co-Chair Ms. Faye Muly, Assistant Vice President, Office of Information Technology, opened the meeting with the request that everyone introduce themselves and identify their roles on the Board. Ms. Muly reminded everyone of the web site for the technology fee ( http://web.utk.edu/~techfee/ ) which contains information regarding all aspects of the technology fee including the bylaws and deliverables for the last seven years. If anyone has any agenda items they wish to add or issues to address in these meetings feel free to contact Ms. Muly ( muly@utk.edu ) or Ms. Nancy Gnilka, Coordinator, Technology Fee ( ngnilka@utk.edu ) .

FY/04 Technology Fee Departmental Lab Funding Finalization

Ms. Gnilka asked if anyone had any questions or changes to suggest concerning the FY04 technology fee departmental computer lab funding awards recommendation presented in the March meeting. These awards are given in response to the priority rankings which are assigned by each college dean. The Advisory Board strives to distribute the funds as suggested by the priorities. The technology fee funded awards this year, based on the request estimates, totaled approximately $894,000. With no further discussion, Dr. Jim Gehlhar made the motion the committee accept the awards as presented. The motion was seconded and approved unanimously. Ms. Muly said the award letters will go out soon and the work will begin to make the equipment and software available to the departments by the beginning of Fall Semester 2003.

FY/04 Technology Fee Budget Recommendation

An estimated FY04 Technology Fee budget recommendation was presented. The main areas covered in the $5,206,735 budget are broken down as follows:

• Network Access Enhancements $758,530
  Whole building networking upgrades
• Open & Departmental Computing Labs $2,257,872
  OIT Open-Access Labs
  New Distributed Departmental Lab Support Program
  Departmental Labs - FY04 Awards
• Student Support Services $1,368,803
  Service Facility Operation (Helpdesk/ Service Center)
  Statistical/Mathematical Student Consulting Support
  Training Services
  General Software Licenses (Includes Program expansion)
  Administrative Support
• Academic Technology Facility and Instructional Technology $821,530
  Teaching with Technology/ ITC Development Lab/ Smart Classrooms
  Student Technology Assistants for Research & Teaching (START)
  Operational Support

Included in the budget this year are three new projects, which have been reviewed over the last six months in detail. These projects, listed below, range from on-demand classroom technology assistance to departmental computer lab support.

• Student technology assistants for research & teaching (START)
• Software Licenses – expanded program for subsidized select software for departmental labs
• Distributed Student Lab Support – Technical support to be made available to colleges or areas really in need of technical IT support. The goal is to provide seed money; not provide a lab manager for a particular college on a permanent basis, but to provided needed technical assistance. The goal will be to fund a maximum of 4 pilot service areas.

As one of the beginning steps in developing the above new programs, Ms. Muly indicated the Office of Information Technology is currently drafting a survey to gather input to assist in defining these much needed IT campus services. The URL for this survey will be distributed online to Deans, Directors, and Department Heads to share with their faculty, staff and students who are interested in information Technology. The information from this survey will be reviewed with the Provost Office as well as the TAB Committee.

Ms. Muly expressed her thanks to the TAB Committee for its participation in this very valuable endeavor over the past year. The technology fee has provided a great opportunity on this campus for everyone. Dr. Luther Wilhelm said he could see tremendous benefits from the very beginning when he was on the Agricultural Campus and now in the College of Engineering.

With no further business, the meeting was adjourned.

Minutes Prepared by: Ms. Judy Travis