Beyond 2000 Committee
November 11, 2005
Meeting Notes
PRESENT
Bill Post, Joe Alexander, Jeff Bell, Charlie Crabb, Carolyn Dusenbury, Kathy Fernandes, Don
Graham, Bob Hannigan, Bill Jones, Cindy Jorth, Debbie McElroberts, Brian Oppy, Linda Post,
Jerry Ringel, John Roussell, Frederica Shockley, Beverly Thornton, Andi Beach, Dave Abbott
and Susan Greco.
1. ECAR Reports (Educational Center for Applied Research)
These reports are available and Bill will bring the most recent ones to meetings if
someone wants a copy (electronic or paper) let Susan know. (executive summary
attached)
2. Wildcat Email Usage (Thornton)
A handout was distributed reflecting the statistics for Wildcat Email for the month of
October. These numbers are particularly interesting now that students have been
informed that e-mail is the official communications tool being used by the University.
Our statistics revealed that we had 11,333 unique student users in October and there are
4,943 who also have set forwarding to another e-mail account. This is definitive evidence
that students are using the system. Disk space does not appear to be problematic; students
are not exceeding the limits at this time. Spam detectors have been installed with an
automatic delete every 30 days. It appears we are successfully meeting our goal of being
able to communicate with the students.
3. Strategic Plan Update Process (Thornton)
A “draft” version of IT Strategic Plan: Aligning with the Future was distributed. We are
shifting our strategic plan format using a smaller, more easily readable version for
general distribution and in addition to an accompaniment document that will become our
action plan outlining what projects we are doing and their progress. We are attempting to
more closely align our strategic planning process with that of the campus plan. Beverly
will be meeting with focus groups across the university in an effort to develop a plan that
will encompass the whole campus. A financial plan will also be incorporated. A revised
draft will be sent to the B2000 Committee. Members are asked to review the draft and
submit any ideas or changes for editing to Bill and Beverly.
4. Classroom Technology (Post/Fernandes)
IRES is currently working with representatives from Facilities Management, Jim Jessee,
and Academic Technologies to develop a plan for improving the lighting and physical
environment in the smart classrooms. We currently have 80 smart classrooms which are
being fully utilized. It cost $8,000 to equip a new smart classrooms plus another $3,000
to $5,000 for FMS retrofitting. Not only are additional smart classrooms needed but it is
also important that we concentrate on refreshing aging equipment in existing rooms. The
plan includes installing new media controllers and DVD functionality in these rooms. As
lighting issues are studied, one thing that has become apparent is the need to update
projectors. Projector bulbs are very costly. There are about 39 old projectors with very
low lumen power. It was agreed that we should seek funding to replace the older
projectors with newer more powerful ones as our first means of tackling the lighting
problems. This may be the easiest and perhaps the least expensive way to bring about
significant improvement.
5. Desktop Computer Replacement (Ringel)
As of September User Support Services has completed the Faculty/Staff Computer
Projects funded last year. A chart was distributed showing the age of campus (non-lab)
computers based on information currently in LanDesk (approx. 3,000 machines).
Although last year’s project provided Academic Affairs units with a significant increase
in computer upgrades, there are still many computers that are rapidly approaching
replacement age along with older machines in the four to five year bracket. After five
years User Services no longer supports these machines. Last year’s machines along with
19” LCD monitors were purchased for $1,100 each. At least one more large purchase of
the complete package (computer + monitor) is in order to bring our monitors up to an
acceptable standard. After that machines only could be purchased at a reduced price of
$700 to $800. The Committee agreed that this issue needs to be included in the
technology plan and IRES should continue to seek funding for an on-going program for
computer replacements/refresh.
It was noted that the computer program to date has been funded by and, therefore,
available only to Academic Affairs units. Business Affairs and Student Affairs need to be
brought into strategic planning for their machines as well. In addition, a plan needs to be
developed for a replacement cycle for the 1400 lab machines across campus.
6. Faculty/Staff Email and Bay Server Quotas (Oppy)
Faculty has experienced difficulty in sending and receiving larger documents via e-mail
due to space limitations. The same has been true of server space on Bay. Beverly
Thornton explained that the space allocation has been increased and additional space can
be requested. In order to receive additional storage space, contact the help desk and
individual limits will be adjusted. Bay and e-mail are not intended as storage systems,
people need to manage their machines appropriately by moving items for storage off the
network and onto their respective machines. Beverly and Jerry will discuss procedures to
inform people who have appropriate needs for additional disk space. An additional
problem exists for students who are required to send faculty larger documents for
presentations and mid terms. Beverly will facilitate changing the attachment size for both
students and faculty to 10 megabytes.
7. Digital Marketplace
Bill was contacted by the Chancellor’s Office to see if our campus would be an alpha
tester for the Digital Marketplace Initiative. The contract has been awarded to Desire to
Learn which is a learning management company. After discussion it was agreed that
Chico should decline the offer to participate.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned.