Information Technology Advisory Committee
TO:
Information Technology Advisory Committee
[Jim Brown (Chair), Kay Clouse, Ian Dees, John Dixon, Jean Donham, Matt Johnson,
Scott Olinger, Dee Ann Rexroat, Todd White, Andy Wildenberg]
Derin Sherman
FR: Jim Brown, Chair
RE:
Minutes of meeting of 12 April, 2005
I. Minutes of meeting of March 8, 2005, were approved as distributed and will be posted on the IT
webpage.
II. Brief updates
1. Jean reported on a conference presentation by an MIT architect regarding design of teaching
spaces accommodating teaching technology: design for people, since technology has gotten
good enough to adapt to human needs rather than the reverse. Use wireless technology,
emphasize portable devices [laptops, projectors, etc.], use spontaneous space [lounges,
hallways, outdoor spaces, etc.].
2. Upgrade purchasing status: John reports satisfactory progress: ones and twos and things easy
to install and implement while classes are in session are being done first, and many upgrades
have been completed; major efforts [ lab and fac/ staff workstation replacements, network
hardware installation, network software upgrades and installations] will proceed as soon as
classes are over for the year.
3. IT summer work plans: individual task lists have been assembled and notations of who must
be involved in various tasks have been laid out. Calendars will be specified as needed.
4. After-hours computer access for students: Andy and Ian proposed extended [24 hour?] use of
the computer science lab, Law Hall first floor. The central area in the building could be
isolated by closing inner fire doors [they have emergence exit hardware], permitting the
south entrance to remain unlocked. We would need to alarm the fire doors and install
monitoring video cameras. Scott Olinger will pursue feasibility with Bill Miler.
5. John had no further information on use of Perfigo with workstations running either Mac or
Linix operating systems and will report at the May meeting.
6. John reported that Mike Cerveny was unable to glean much information from Grinnell
College about their use of alternative network spam filtering and that the decision had been
made to go with the originally-planned solution from Microsoft.
III. Service policy for student-owned computers: John proposed an alternate strategy to the ITAC
preliminary recommendation of March 8 that Cornell provide a hot network connection,
appropriate software for dealing with viruses and spyware, and contact information for local
repair service providers, but otherwise get out of the repair business. The committee was
unconvinced that John’s alternative would adequately deal with the major consequence of unbudgeted work on student computers: insufficient staff time to deal with other, pressing IT
needs, including instructional technology support for faculty and students. The committee
reiterated its recommendation that IT explain the situation to students by May and periodically
remind them over the summer that IT will be out of the repair business when students return in
the fall. A proposed policy needs to go to the president the week of April 24 if we are to have
timely notice to the community of any policy change.
IV. Faculty-staff laptop policies: Jim led a discussion of the history and current status of policies for
provision of laptop workstations for faculty and staff. Because of changes in how people work
and changes in the capabilities, reliability, and relative cost of laptops, current policies need reexamination. A subcommittee consisting of John Dixon, Ian Dees, Scott Olinger, and Todd
White was appointed to map out a review plan to share with committee members, commence a
review, and report back to the committee as soon as practicable. Issues in the examination will
include, but will not be limited to, cost, reliability, power, and life-cycles of laptops;
appropriateness of allocating multiple college-owned computers to individuals; network and
software access for privately-owned computers used on college business; reasons for requesting
laptops; numbers of individual likely to request laptops for their single college workstation and
effects on institutional upgrade and replacement cycles and costs. John will convene the
committee’s initial meeting and the committee will agree on a permanent convener.
V. Dee Ann distributed copies of the web development priority list and explained a number of items
on the list. Members are to consider the list and be in touch with Dee Ann on any questions or
recommendations. Dee Ann noted the progress made in long-standing development issues
since webmaster Mike Plagge joined the IT staff.