Minutes of Meeting, 12/15/98
Attendance:
Mr. Douglas Baitz, Cenla Campus
Ms Joyce Barnes, Leesville Campus
Ms Melanie Bedgood, Continuing Education
Ms Angelique Duhon for Mr. Luke Dowden, SGA
Ms Peggy Emmons, Cenla Campus
Dr. Bob Gillan, TEC-ETEC
Mr. Tom Hall, Science & Technology
Mr. Eddie Horton, Title III
Ms Sandra Mixon, General College
Dr. James Picht, Scholars' College
Ms Susan Pierce, Nursing (Chair)
Dr. Anthony Scheffler, Academic Computing
Ms Pati Threatt, Watson Library
Dr. Ray Wallace, Language & Communications
Ms Susan White, Business
Absent: Ms Juanita Darby, Mr. Phillip Gillis, Mr. Shawn Hornsby, Mr. Dennis Kalina, Ms Mary Edith Stacy, Mr. Joe Rollins, and Ms Marsha Zulick
The Information Technology Advisory Council met on Monday, December 15, 1998 at 10:00 am in Kyser Hall Room 419.
Ms Pierce called the meeting to order to begin the task of evaluating the proposals for Student Technology Fee Funds. She mentioned that last year the ITAC ranked all the proposals then funded them in order. This year, the funding stands at $200,000.00, only enough to cover about 2/3 of the proposals. Ms Pierce asked what the ITAC should do with the proposals that are not initially funded - consider them if they are resubmitted or hold on to them in the event that funds become available at a later date. Dr. Gillan proposed the idea of funding some proposals at a reduced rate, i.e., if a proposal called for 4 computers, fund 2. He also mentioned that with bulk purchasing, some proposals would require less funds than originally anticipated. Mr. Hall brought a motion that the ITAC fund $200,000.00 worth of proposals, then rank the remaining ones and fund in that order. Ms Bedgood seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. Ms Bedgood clarified that the proposals that are not funded must be re-submitted for consideration next year. The proposals will not carry over from one year to the next.
That decided, Ms Pierce called for the leaders of each committee to present its proposals and rankings. Dr. Scheffler noted that at least one student representative had the opportunity to sit on a committee in order to rank proposals. The meeting then came to a standstill as all the committees did not have a chance to meet to rank their proposals. The ITAC stood in recess while various committees met to rank their assigned proposals.
During this break, the remaining members of the ITAC discussed ways to streamline the proposal process. Mr. Hall suggested making the ITAC a more student-centered committee. Ms Pierce suggested that the deadline for the Call for Proposals be in the Spring, allowing everyone on the ITAC to review the proposals and give the proposers a chance to defend the proposals in person. Ms Duhon expressed interest in allowing all the SGA senators to read and evaluate the proposals. Ms Pierce humbly suggested that the ITAC chair position be made a 2-year appointment instead of the present 1-year appointment. Dr. Scheffler reminded the group that the ITAC started as simply an advisory council to Dr. Burns. He also mentioned that having each proposer come before the ITAC to present his or her case would be extremely difficult to schedule. Dr. Wallace stated that the ITAC should keep the proposals in written form only. That each proposal should stand on its own with out further oral explanation is not too much to ask of the Northwestern community. Dr. Gillan concurs with this view but suggests that the ITAC encourage proposal writers to make their proposals scalable so that if complete funding is not available, the ITAC can still fund a portion of the proposal. Mr. Hall suggested the idea of the ITAC asking written questions of the proposers without the proposers given the opportunity to make a full-scale oral defence. To this end, Dr. Wallace suggested making the proposal process two-tiered, with an earlier deadline for drafts so that the ITAC could suggest changes before the final proposal is submitted. Ms Threatt reminded the group of original spirit of the proposal process, that is, to keep it simple, and that adding to the process would further complicate the matter. Ms Bedgood brought up the point that fairness demands that the ITAC give everyone the chance to explain his or her proposal, not just a few that were not readily comprehendable. These issues were tabled until the entire ITAC could discuss them.
With all the committees back from the break, the leaders of each presented their proposals and rankings. Ms White moved to fund proposals 2, 3, 5, 7, 9, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15, and 19 (descriptions attached). Dr. Gillan seconded the motion and the vote passed unanimously. Dr. Gillan then moved that proposals 4, 18, and 20 be partially funded based on available funds. Ms Bedgood seconded the motion. Ms White moved to amend the motion to fund a minimum of one station per proposal as written, then fund the remaining proposals in order with any remaining funds. Dr. Wallace seconded the motion. Mr. Hall further amended the motion to include Dr. Scheffler reporting to the ITAC how much money remained after funding the initial set of proposals. Dr. Gillan seconded this amendment. A vote was taken and the motion passed unanimously.
The next meeting will be held on January 25, 1999 at 10:00 am.
With no other business the council was adjourned at 12:30 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Pati Threatt, Secretary, Information Technology Advisory Council
Fully Funded Proposals:
Aviation Science: Equipment for computer based flight training.
Chemistry and Physics: Digital imaging equipment and software.
Military Science: Presentation hardware and software.
Biology (Natchitoches Campus): Biopac systems and workstations.
Biology (Leesville Campus): Mitsubishi Mega View 29" monitor.
Biology (Leesville Campus): Interactive Multimedia CD ROMs.
Psychology: Mobile computer systems and software.
Education Technology: Mobile presentation units for classroom delivery and student use in TEC.
Nursing: Multimedia content specific resource development for instructional delivery and independent learning.
Cenla Campus: Multimedia delivery system/workstation.
Math and Computer Science (Leesville Campus): Electronic whiteboard and stand.
Partially Funded Proposals (minimum of one unit each)
Business: Mobile multimedia cart and delivery system.
Language and Communication: Laptop computer and DVD, projector, VCR, and software.
Nursing: IM injection simulators.
