Minutes of Meeting, 9/29/97
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
Old Business
The Council began the meeting by discussing the Board of Trustees policies on usage of student technology fees. Lawmakers expressed concern this week that Nicholls State plans to use these fees to pay staff salaries. On September 25, Board President James Callier sent to all institution presidents a memo listing appropriate areas for fee expenditure and asked each institution to submit a plan and budget of proposed fee use. This plan is due October 3. Our Council will proceed with our planning activities but uncertainty regarding fee usage may limit other Council activities at this time. Specifically, clarification is clearly needed before we allocate fees to personnel salaries. Alicia Thomas, who attended a Board meeting last week, suggested that 10% of fees may eventually be allowed to fund staff (but not faculty) salaries.
The Council then discussed the Board of Trustees perspective that "computers=technology." Council members agreed that this was a narrow perspective which may greatly limit use of student technology fees.
On October 3, Northwestern will submit a broad University-wide technology plan which includes student fee usage but is not limited to fee usage. The plan will be based on the draft plan and will outline University technology goals for the future. Dr. Hall and Ms. Pierce are working hard to add specific objectives and action plans to the draft plan. The plan will be posted on-line and comments will be solicited from the University community.
Dr. Scheffler suggested that the Council soon form a subcommittee to define the mission, membership, and operation of the Council. This will done at a later meeting.
The Council reviewed and discussed the revised Student Technology Fee Allocation Request Form. All were pleased by the new form and the efforts of the committee that created it. Dr. Hanson made a motion to approve the form. Dr. Hall seconded the motion which was passed by the Council. The form will not be put into use until the Board of Trustees clarifies the student technology fee issues.
Ms. Pierce moved to accept the minutes of the September 22 meeting with one minor change. Dr. Hanson seconded the motion which the Council then passed.
Dr. Hall presented the policies and procedures for the innovation grants. These grants will tentatively be submitted on the same forms as the aforementioned student technology fee requests but additional criteria will be included in their evaluation. Specifically, faculty and staff must prove that their proposal represents innovation in instructional technology. Also, the request must identify potential for further funding from external sources. A discussion followed and several suggestions were made to improve and clarify the procedures. All felt that students must be included to a greater extent in the innovation grant process. The Council needs further clarification on whether these grants will be accepted by the Board and how much money we should devote to these grants. Given the current atmosphere regarding allocation of student fees, Dr. Hall moved that we continue to discuss and comment on the innovation grant process. Dr. Hanson seconded the motion which the Council then passed.
The Council scheduled a tentative meeting for Monday, October 6, at 10:00 a.m. if Dr. Scheffler finds that there is feedback and information from the Board of Trustees to discuss. If not, the Council will hold its next official meeting on Monday, October 13, at 10:00 a.m., in Kyser 220.
The meeting was adjourned at 11:00 a.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Cate Cebrowski, Secretary-Webmaster
Information Technology Advisory Council
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