Information Technology Advisory Council

Northwestern State University of Louisiana

Minutes of Meeting, 9/22/97

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. Phillip Gillis, Academic Computing; Dr. Thomas Hanson, Graduate School; Mr. Thomas Hall, Science & Technology; Mr. Eddie Horton; Ms. Carol Humphries*, Shreveport SGA; 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, Liberal Arts; Mr. Lucas Shaw, Natchitoches SGA; Dr. Anthony Scheffler, Chair, Academic Computing; Ms. Alicia Thomas, Natchitoches SGA; Ms. LaTonja Thomas, Shreveport SGA. *Absent

Guest(s): Mr. Roy Davis, Academic Computing

The second meeting of the Information Technology Advisory Council began at 10:15 a.m. on Monday, September 22, 1997 in Room 220 Kyser Hall.

Ms. Alicia Thomas made a motion to approve the minutes of the previous meeting. Ms. Pierce seconded the motion and the Council approved the minutes as written.

Old Business

The Council reviewed and discussed the work of the committee led by Dr. Ross. The mission of this committee is to develop the forms and standards that academic and non-academic departments will use to request student technology fee monies. The committee created two draft documents since the last meeting: a Student Technology Fee Allocation Request Form and Instructions to accompany the form. Using this procedure, faculty and staff would complete requests which deans would then rank and send to the Council for rating and allocation of funds. The Council discussed modifications that need to be made to the forms. These modifications include:

1. Addition of a mechanism for students to submit request forms. Dr. Ross suggested that the SGA could form a committee to evaluate student proposals prior to sending them to the Council. Ms. Pierce suggested that a faculty member serve on the committee for guidance.
2. Changes to proposal timeline. Proposals will be due at the end of the 5th week of the regular semester preceding the semester for which funding is requested. Notification of funding will be given by the end of the 8th week.
3. Changes in language and rating structure. The Council agreed that not all sections of the draft form should be worth the same number of points.
4. Addition of the budget to the evaluation process. The budget portion of all proposals will be rated and included in the point system.

The Council agreed to all changes discussed at this time. Dr. Ross asked that Council members forward additional comments to him. Mr. Hall made a motion that Dr. Ross’ committee incorporate the changes and present a revised form at the next meeting. Dr. Bechtel seconded the motion which was accepted by the Council.

The Council agreed to hold its next meeting on Monday, September 29, 1997 at 10:00 a.m. in Kyser 220.

Dr. Scheffler stated that the Student Employment initiative is ongoing. Ms. A. Thomas said that the Board of Trustees meets this week and may determine at that time whether we can use student technology fees for student and other personnel salaries.

As a follow-up to Dr. Cochran’s suggestion at the previous meeting that surplus computer furniture be used to save money, Dr. Scheffler asked that all departments notify him of their extra equipment and/or furniture. The equipment will be stored in a central, secure location. Faculty, staff, and students will then be able to request use of the equipment, perhaps through the Student Fee Allocation forms or another method. This plan to collect surplus equipment will be announced officially once a storage place is identified.

Dr. Hall said that after some review his subcommittee on faculty innovation grants determined that there may be significant differences between these grants and the aforementioned student technology fee proposals. Specifically, these grants may serve as requests for seed money for truly innovative projects. At next week’s meeting, Dr. Hall will have a full report of the subcommittee’s efforts. He encouraged Council members to forward additional ideas to him.

New Business

Dr. Scheffler updated the Council on the new computer labs. Equipment for the lab in the main campus Student Union has been ordered. Eddie Horton plans to visit the branch campuses this week to gather information required for their new labs.

Dr. Scheffler suggested that the Information Technology Advisory Council support the printing of a new Computer Lab Resource Pamphlet based on the brochure previously printed by Watson Library. Craig Poleman made a motion that student technology fees be used to fund the printing of this pamphlet. Dr. Hunt seconded the motion which was then passed by the Council. Cate Cebrowski will lead the development of the new pamphlet which will include information on hours, services, and restrictions of labs on all campuses.

Respectfully submitted,

Cate Cebrowski, Secretary-Webmaster
Information Technology Advisory Council