2012-13 Council on Libraries, Information Systems and Computing (LISC)
Minutes
October 9, 2012
3:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
AS-122
Attendance: Elizabeth Gaffney, Chair; Larry Raffalovich; Christine Haile; Abebe Rorissa;
Kimberly Van Orman (for Bill Roberson); Jean Guyon; Evgeny Dikarev; John Delano; Eliot Rich;
Debra Dickerson
1. Report from the Chair: Elizabeth Gaffney
The April 2nd and 30th LISC minutes will be sent under separate cover to the 2011-12
Council and asked to send their motion to approve via email to Elizabeth.
Elizabeth opened up the meeting with a pending item from last 2011-2012, the Responsible
Use Policy. Elizabeth asked whether a separate meeting had taken place between John
Reilly and the IT Committee to discuss the spirit and intent of this portion of the policy, as
well as concerns regarding the privacy and the monitoring of content. In addition, whether
or not the policy was the responsibility of LISC or not. This meeting did take place and
Counsel’s opinion was to say that the governance text in the policy was not necessary.
Larry Raffalovich stated that there were differences in interpreting the language. Elizabeth
asked whether we should refer this policy back to the IT Committee or finalize with the whole
LISC Committee. It was agreed that the policy did not have to go back to the IT Committee.
Elizabeth asked Chris Haile if she would email the most recent version of Responsible Use
to Elizabeth so it she could send it out to the Committee members so it could be discussed
at the next meeting.
2. Report from the Chief Information Officer – Christine Haile
Chris reported on the groundbreaking of the new Data Center located at Service Building C.
The completion date is scheduled for 2014. We are expected to move in sometime in the
summer of 2014. Chris offered to have someone come to a LISC meeting to give a briefing
on the new Data Center if the members were interested.
The Office of the CIO is completing a final report on the 2009-2012 Strategic Plan and
copies will be distributed at the next LISC meeting. Chris is also preparing a briefing book
on IT for the newly elected President.
Chris is a member of the Chancellor’s shared services initiative. The committee is in the
initial state of bouncing ideas off each other and is in consultation with HVCC regarding the
sharing of services.
The current IT budget is flat. There is demand for new projects and associated cost
increases for contracts we currently hold. We have a number of new applications and
infrastructure investments at the same time. We are at our typical refresh cycle for network
and classroom renovations.
Blackboard mobile is accessible to small screens; mobile app is free for all devices until May
2013; after that, there will be a charge for the service. SUNY is considering how best to
contract for these services. The options $17,000/year for a site license, or students could
purchase the app for less than $5. These options will need to be revisited as the time nears.
Utilization statistics implies that there is a lot of usage of this app. Chris will bring statistics
to LISC with more information on the usage at UAlbany.
The campus has invested in 100% fixed technology with a one-time money and cycle
associated with it. Requests for more and better technology in the classrooms, as well as
replacement of technology will add up to a lot of money, which is currently unfunded. Chris
offered to report on the classroom opportunities at future LISC meeting if the Committee
concurs.
A question arose as to how one would ask for technological assistance; Chris advised to fill
out a Service Desk ticket. That way, even if one did not know where to go with his/her
problem, the Service Desk would forward to the correct department for solution.
3. Report from the Dean of Libraries – Mary Casserly
No report available; Mary was absent from the meeting.
4. Announcements and New Business
Elizabeth asked that the members get back to her via email on their preference for serving
on the IT or Library Sub-committees.
Larry Raffalovich commented on his concern with embedded links in emails. The link could
lead to someone who is trying to get in one’s system. Larry would like to see the absence of
embedded links in all University correspondence and asked if this is something LISC would
want to review as a Council. Chris offered to have Marty Manjak, ISO, speak at the
November 6th LISC meeting regarding embedded links.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 4:00 p.m.