Minutes of Meeting, 11/17/97
Attendance:
Ms. Joyce Barnes, Leesville SGA*; Dr. Terry Bechtel, Business; Dr. Alvin Brossette, Continuing Education; Ms. Cate Cebrowski, Watson Library; Dr. Betsy Cochran, Scholar’s College; Ms. Juanita Darby, Leesville Campus*; Mr. Roy Davis, Academic Computing*; Mr. Phillip Gillis, Academic Computing; Dr. Thomas Hanson, Graduate School*; Mr. Thomas Hall, Science & Technology*; Mr. Eddie Horton, Academic Computing*; Dr. Sally Hunt, Education*; Mr. Creighton Owen, Leesville Campus*; Ms. Susan Pierce, Nursing; Mr. Craig Poleman, CenLA Campus*; Mr. Steve Reid, Computer Center; Dr. Garry Ross, Language and Communication; Mr. Lucas Shaw, Natchitoches SGA*; Dr. Anthony Scheffler, Chair, Academic Computing; Ms. Alicia Thomas, Natchitoches SGA*; Ms. LaTonja Thomas, Shreveport SGA* *Absent
The Council began the meeting by passing a motion to accept the minutes from the previous meeting (November 3, 1997) as official.
Dr. Scheffler reported that the draft Northwestern State University Technology Enhancement Plan (NSTEP) is in the hands of Board of Trustees members and that we await their approval. The document still requires changes, such as the addition of ADA considerations. Until the Board approves the document, it will not be posted on the Web for review and comments. If members of the NSU community would like to see the document, please contact Dr. Scheffler or the Secretary.
Steve Reid presented the forms which will be used to conduct a hardware and software inventory of all Colleges and Departments. Reid stated that the Computer Center will enter the information gathered from Departments into a database and thus create a University-wide inventory of computer equipment. A discussion ensued regarding whether such an inventory was necessary or simply additional work for an overtaxed faculty/staff. Phillip Gillis stated that such information would help him greatly as he plans the Intranet and as the University in general seeks to upgrade existing equipment. Council members agreed that this information would be of value. Dr. Cochran moved that the ITAC approve the form presented by Mr. Reid. Ms. Pierce seconded the motion which then passed. Dr. Scheffler said that he will ask Dr. Burns to send the forms out with a cover latter and timeline to all Deans and Department heads.
Dr. Scheffler announced that the student technology fees will pay for two student lab assistants in each open computer lab on campus (note: “open” means open during regular hours but not necessarily open to every student on campus). The assistants will be supervised within individual Colleges and/or Departments. Colleges/Departments must identify the students they wish to hire and train them. They must then send the names, SSNs of students, and documentation of their training to Dr. Scheffler who will do the actual hiring. In the future, the Computer Center will provide formal training for all lab assistants on campus. At this juncture, Dr. Brossette inquired as to how many open labs there are on campus. No one on the ITAC knew, though the Secretary does have a list which she developed last summer of 14 computer labs, their locations and hours.
Dr. Brossette also asked from which budget the supplies (paper, toner, etc.) for the new labs will be purchased. Dr. Scheffler stated that individual departments will still be responsible for supplies within their labs but that non-departmental labs (e.g., in the Union and Library) may request student technology fees for supplies.
Dr. Scheffler presented a report on the current Student Technology fee budget. Of the $500,000 collected this semester approximately five-sixths ($415,000) has been spent or allocated for computer equipment for labs on the Leesville, CENLA, and Shreveport campuses, in the TEC and main campus Student Union, and in Bienvenu, Varnado, and Boozeman Halls. The Library is also planning an open, multi-media computer lab.
Dr. Ross reported on the efforts of his committee to define the mission and membership of the ITAC. He presented the committee’s recommendations which add the General College and Student Affairs to ITAC membership and give each area/department/college one voting member. Additional recommendations include having ITAC elect its chair and dividing the Council up into four groups for purposes of evaluating tech fee proposals. Also, the committee recommends the development of an additional group, the Teaching-Learning Technology Roundtable (TLTR) to develop the vision and goals associated with University technology planning. Dr. Scheffler clarified this mission by stating that the TLTR is based on a state-wide model and is meant to serve in a think-tank capacity, developing ideas on how to facilitate teaching and learning via technology. The eight present Council members agreed for the most part with the committee’s recommendations though Dr. Bechtel did ask why the Athletic Department need be represented on the ITAC. Dr. Ross affirmed that Athletics has an academic component and for this reason should have a voice on ITAC. The Council did find the mission statement for ITAC that the committee developed to be rather narrow. Dr. Ross said that the committee would work to expand it. In the meantime, the Secretary will send all recommendations excepting the mission statement to all ITAC members for comments. The comments and new mission statement will be discussed at the next meeting.
Dr. Brossette then gave a brief report of the state technology summit held at McNeese on November 10. The theme of the summit was improving health care and education in Louisiana through technology. Attendees of the summit discusses distance education and the realization of technological potential within the state. The Board of Regents announced at the summit that a new position on the Board has been created for an Associate Commissioner of Technology.
The Council adjourned at 11:15 a.m.
Respectfully submitted,Cate Cebrowski, Secretary-Webmaster
Information Technology Advisory Council
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