ACADEMIC COMPUTING AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
ADVISORY (ACITAS) SUBCOMMITTEE

December 8
November 10
October 13
September 22

Academic Computing and Information Technology Advisory (ACITAS) Subcommittee
Minutes
December 8, 1999
2:30 p.m., Room 476

Present: M. Kimble, chair, H. Broberg, R. Kostrubanic, D. Liang, D. May, L. Meyer, J. Moore, M. O'Hear, K. Trier, J. Violette

Absent: R. Murray

Guest: S. Birk

The meeting was called to order at 2:35 by M. Kimble, chair. The minutes of the November 10, 1999 meeting were approved as distributed.

D. May reported on current discussions of the VCAA Task Force on Computer Laboratories chaired by Dean Pugh. The task force has not yet completed its deliberations.

R. Kostrubanic reported that ITPC guidelines for state technology funds were used in the university's report to ICHE on the university's use of the funds.

R. Kostrubanic reported that Web CT's new owner may not support the HP unix platform. A decision is expected within 30 days. DECCO (the Distance Education Coordinating Committee) will be reviewing options in January. IPFW will stay with version 1.3 of Web CT for the spring semester and probably pay for more student accounts than the current 800 allotment.

The ACITAS Subcommittee will meet at 1:00 on the 2nd Tuesday of each month during the spring semester. The next meeting will be on Tuesday, January 11.

At the close of the business meeting, Samantha Birk, instructional designer assigned to CELT, demonstrated Web CT.

The meeting adjourned at 3:45 p.m.

Recorded by J. Violette

Academic Computing
and Information Technology Advisory Subcommittee
Minutes
November 10, 1999
2:30p.m., Room SB476

Present: M..Kimble (chair), H. Broberg, R. Kostrubanic, D. Liang, D. May, L. Meyer, J. Moore, M. O'Hear, K. Trier, J. Violette

Absent: R. Murray

Guest: Deb Sewards

The meeting was called to order at 2:35 by Professor M. Kimble, chair. The minutes of the September 22, 1999, and October 13, 1999 meetings were approved as distributed.

Old Business:

The proposed guidelines for the apportionment of the state technology fee discussed at the Oct. 13th meeting have been adopted by the Information Technology Policy Committee. The guidelines suggest that 10% of the funds be withheld for emergencies, that 20% go to cover routine upgrades of desktop computers, that 30% be applied to infrastructure and the remaining 50% by allocated for specific problems. Faculty have an opportunity to apply for funds via the school equipment requests.

New Business:

Al Pugh is chairing an AOC task force to investigate mega lab options and drawbacks along with support for teaching labs and dedicated labs.

Deb Sewards presented a demonstration of Net Tutor, a Web-based software designed especially for mathematics teachers and for others.

The meeting adjourned at 3:30p.m. The next meeting will be on December 8 at 2:30p.m. in SB 476.

Recorded by J. Violette

Minutes of the October 13, 1999 meeting
held 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. in SB476
prepared by J.S. Moore

In Attendance:

David May (SPEA); Daniel Liang (CS); Bob Kostrubanic (ITS); Margaret Kimble (Chemistry); Linda Meyer (Nursing); Jim Moore (SBMS); Kathy Skurzewski for Mike O=Hear Not In Attendance: Hal Broberg (ETCS); Debbie Conklin (Dist Ed); Mark Myers (Education); Ed Moritz (English); Robert Murray (FPA); Kathy Trier (Soc/Anthro); Judith Violette (Library); Karen Wakely OLS) Lacking a quorum, those in attendance agreed that they could not conduct official business including the approval of minutes of the previous meeting. Nevertheless, discussion ensued on the following agenda items:

Old Business:

A) Bob Kostrubanic agreed that ITS would establish a Listserv for ACITAS

B) With the inclusion of Debbie Conklin and Mark Myers filling the vacancies for Distance Ed and Education respectively, the composition of the committee for this year is set.

New Business:

A) Janet Jordan (Educ) had passed on a student request / inquiry about the possibility of a MAC being placed in the 24-hour lab located in the Helmke Library lounge. Bob Kostrubanic reported that, after discussing this possibility with the technical people in ITS, it was determined that the MAC is not compatible with the network management and controls at the present time. Thus, such a networked MAC would not be recommended, but a stand alone MAC could be a possibility if it would meet the needs of students.

B) Marge will attend a meeting on Friday October 14 with the VCAA to begin developing policies and procedures regarding expenditure of campus information / technology funds other than those from the Technology Fee and special state appropriations. Any suggestions / input from the departments should be directed to Marge prior to Friday=s meeting

C) ACITAS may have a Avisibility problem@ with regard to an awareness of our existence by the general campus faculty. We need to establish, and periodically refresh, the awareness of our existence and the concept that we serve as a forum for issues involving all dimensions of academic computing. Perhaps we should set up procedures for soliciting and processing requests from the academic units. The committee questioned the continued appropriateness of its reporting line through the University Resources Policy Committee, noting that the parallel committee on administrative computing is one level closer to decision makers.

D) Bob Kostrubanic reported that Deb Sewards (A&S) has developed a very positive impression of the product NetTutor which is a form of electronic whiteboard. This product facilitates construction and manipulation of diagrams, sketches, and other visuals by simultaneous distributed users. The concept has been vocally supported by faculty in such broad based areas as math, sciences, nursing and business. Marge will ask Deb to prepare a demonstration of NetTutor for the committee at its next meeting currently scheduled for 2:30 p.m. November 10 in SB476.

The unofficial meeting was adjourned at 3:30 p.m.

Minutes
September 22, 1999
2:30 p.m., Room KT101

Present: H. Broberg, M. Kimble, R. Kostrubanic, D. May, L. Meyer, J. Moore, M. Myers, M. O=Hear, K. Trier, J. Violette, K. Wakely

Absent: R. Murray, Distance Education representative

Election of Officers

Professor Margaret Kimble was elected chair. Judith Violette agreed to be recorder. Meeting Time and Place Meetings will take place on the 2nd Wednesday of each month at 2:30 p.m. in SB476. The fall meetings will therefore be scheduled for October13, November 10, and December 8. Membership M. Kimble will determine how to replace P. Erdman with L. Meyer on the Subcommittee. Issues and Concerns The Subcommittee discussed various information technology issues and problems that may be possible action items this year. These include the proposed elimination of the Mac lab to make room for a test lab, the need for technical support for both continuing and new technologies, and interaction with other campus committees and task forces working in information technology-related issues. The Subcommittee adjourned at 3:30 p.m.