Beyond 2000 Committee
September 10, 2004
Meeting Notes
PRESENT
Bill Post, Dan Toy, Don Graham, Brian Oppy, Len Fisk, Carolyn Dusenbury, Charlie Crabb,
Jerry Ringel, Debra Barger, John Roussell, George Wellman, Dave Abbott (for Kathy
Fernandes), Frederica Shockley, Jerry Ringel, Alisha Thayer, Brooke Banks, Cindy Jorth, Joe
Alexander, Vicky Breeden, Kim Williams,
NEW STUDENT EMAIL SYSTEM AND POLICY
Three documents were distributed on this topic: A diagram showing student e-mail system
components, a technology project overview for the system, and the Policy for Official
Communication via Electronic Mail.
A project is under way to replace the current Sun solution with Cyrus, an open source e-mail
application developed and used at Carnegie Mellon University since 1994. The new system will
be much improved over the existing Sun system. It will allow SPAM filtering to junk e-mail
folders, improved folder management for users on Web interface, reduced cost of ownership, and
increased security through encryption. The new system should be up and running in November
2004. The draft e-mail policy will be going to the Executive Council on Wednesday the 15th for
review. It was noted that e-mail is already being used as one method for communicating with
students, and a policy should be in place to back up this practice.
TECHNOLOGY FEE
Two documents were distributed on this topic: A draft of a single across-the-board technology
fee proposal and a draft of a college-based differential technology fee proposal. CSU, Chico is
in the early stages of considering a new supplemental student fee intended to enhance the
academic experience of all students by investing in technology. The fee, if approved, would help
to fund a variety of technology needs that are not covered by existing fees. However, any new
fee proposal must receive approval from the chancellor’s office and it is not clear that any new
fees will be approved. If it appears it is possible to move forward with a fee proposal, Vice
Provost for Information Resources will solicit input from the committee. It was noted that the
earliest a student election could be held on a technology fee is March 2005.
SPAM SOLUTIONS
A technology project overview on a Campus Spam Solution and a diagram showing the
components of a spam solution were distributed. The proposed solution consists of two solutions
for faculty/staff: One applies filters to e-mail clients to read spam headers provided by
SpamAssassin. The second would upgrade clients to Outlook 2003 as we’re able to. Either
method would provide junk e-mail folders and the ability to move all spam to a folder that can be
reviewed and managed by individual users and clean out inboxes. For students, no current
solution can be provided until the new student e-mail system is implemented in November 2004.
The new system will provide junk folders and will automatically filter messages marked as spam
by SpamAssassin into this folder.
Our current policy is that we do not automatically delete messages. Members were asked their
thoughts about obvious spam messages being deleted at the server before they reach users.
Members agreed they prefer the messages reach the mailboxes and then the users decide to
delete the messages. Members also agreed that the standard among other e-mail providers is to
delete junk mail in junk mail folders after 30 days, however, we currently do not have the ability
to do that until the new student -email system is installed. It was agreed that we will revisit timed
deletion of student e-mail before such action is taken.
PORTAL II STATUS
A technology project overview on uPortal: Portal II - Implementing the Next Chico State Portal
and three screen shots of the look of the new portal were distributed to members. uPortal was
chosen as the best alternative for the next campus portal. The key factors in choosing uPortal
included the facts that uPortal provides the best integration with Chico’s current information
sources. The content is straightforward and would require minimal staff training; it is an opensource product; the software is free, and the overall cost of implementation is low. The new
portal structure will allow colleges and department to create their own “channels” in the future,
but our initial focus will be reproducing our current portal functionality.
The new and old portals will both be live for a period of time before the old portal goes away.
The plan is to have the new portal available for student registration with CMS in the spring.
ACROBAT PDF WRITER FOR FACULTY
A faculty member requested to have a PDF writer available campus-wide. Jerry Ringel pointed
out that there are a number of applications that will create a PDF besides the Acrobat PDF writer.
Jerry will work on a list we can distribute.
USB IN SMART CLASSROOMS
A request was made to have USB available in all Smart Classrooms on campus. Dave Abbott
announced that this past summer, USB cables were provided in all Smart Classrooms. The cables
may not always be easily seen, but they are there. Another problem that has been observed with
the newer USB II storage devices is that some plugs do not fit. Unfortunately the plug standard
for USB II devices has not yet reached the standardization level of the USB I devices. If
possible faculty should check ahead of time to make sure their memory stick/device will fit in the
plug.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned.