Minutes of 4/06/98
Technology Committee
Notes of: April 6, 1998 Meeting
Present: Bill Post, Larry Schmunk, Chuck Worth, Jon Ebeling, Frederica Shockley, Kay
Schenk, Dan Crozier, Carolyn Dusenbury, Beverly Taylor, Debbie McElroberts, Roy
Crosbie, Jeff Bell, Fred Ryan, Steve Adams, Ralph Meuter, Jessica Lusardi, John
Roussell, and Judy Simmons.
I. T2000 Update
Members introduced themselves. Bill Post reminded the group that the T2000 document and meeting minutes could be found on the web page. He distributed copies of the T2000 plan and asked the committee to review it as well as this year's allocation of funds. It is time to begin to reevaluate the targets and set priorities for the new fiscal year's budget. It is important to keep the plan up-to-date and to focus on outcomes. The plan is three years old - is it still relevant?
II. E-mail Update
Debbie McElroberts said that the implementation of the new e-mail systems is on schedule. Exchange is set to begin with the first pilot group on April 14, the second group on the 16th and the third group on April 20. These groups will help answer the questions and problems before the campus installation.
The hardware for Netscape has been received and is being configured and checked out.
They are in the process of finalizing the directory server-what/how methodology is being worked out. Faculty are welcome to have an account on this platform (as well as
Exchange) so that their e-mail will match their students.
Debbie also discussed the new messaging directory (LDAP) which will be used to authorize who is eligible for various modem groups. Because it will use name and password as well as student ID code, it will have the potential to provide a wide range of functions including restricting or enabling access to various materials in the library, and with the potential to tie to the debit card. The single server will also maintain groups by class enrollment. This distribution capability will allow us to do things we haven't thought of yet.
III. Campus Desktop Upgrade
Bev Taylor said that e-mail has brought the issue of substandard machines to the forefront on campus. The current number of older Mac machines coupled with the fact

that these older machines cannot use the functionality of the new messaging system created the need to address the issue immediately. Of the 112 computers being purchased in this year's Faculty Computing Project, only about 20% will be new Macs. Because of this, Fred Ryan proposed to the Provost and Deans a solution that would address most, if not all, substandard faculty and staff machines in Academic Affairs. The approved process will provide an early allocation (July 1998) for the next round of the Faculty
Computing Project. These funds will address substandard machines and will not be distributed based on FTEF. In addition, there will be additional allocation of $200,000 used to address the remaining substandard Mac and PCs. Dan Crozier will be determining tiers of needs, or user profiles that might be used for this implementation of faculty and staff desktops.
IV. Faculty Computing Project
Dan Crozier reported that he will be contacting departments next week to finalize the list.
In early May he will work with the departments to determine staging and storage needs as well as timeline for installation.
Roy Crosbie asked about standardized purchases. He said that many faculty have questions about campus computer purchases. They often see advertisements of computers which appear to be cheaper. Bill Post responded that the advertised computers often do not include the same features, i.e. software, monitor size, shipping cost, and tax. It was agreed that T2000 should put out a document explaining why we buy what we buy.
V. Classroom Technology Update
Larry Schmunk distributed a memo outlining the status of master or enhanced classrooms and equipment ordered. All classrooms are mediated to some degree. Completion of many of these rooms has been stalled because of the 12-month backlog of FMS projects.
There was discussion of need for an off-campus contract to overcome this delay. Next meeting will focus on needs for specialized labs.
VI. Distance Learning on the Internet
Bill Post has been working with Kathy Fernandes to begin the process of determining what the campus needs to facilitate distance learning on the internet. He will be appointing a committee to help with the task. Last week there were vendors on campus to demonstrate their products which range in price from $250-$3000/course. The vendors will work with faculty to get syllabi on the web and promise to complete the process in
90 days. The committee must determine whether it is worthwhile to use a vendor to jump-start getting the courses on line.
VII. Computer Based Training for Technology
Dan Crozier and Bill Post are researching viable opportunities to implement computerbased training for technical staff as part of their professional development resource, as

part of the IT Training Program, as well as the possibility of faculty integrating it into their curriculum for students. Training in applications such as Windows NT, Microsoft
Office Suite, and SAP is available from the manufacturers. There is a tremendous potential, not only for our own staff, but also for students.
~ Next meeting: Monday, April 20 from 1:00 - 2:00 in MLIB 455