Committees and BoardsTechnology Planning Committee
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Minutes of the Technology Planning Committee Meeting Members: Mark Covey (P), Werner Faries (A), Bibhor Dhungel (P), Steve Frank (P), Jim Hewitt (A), Sharon Hoverson (A), Keith Landa (P), Sharon Nelson (A), Erik Ramstad (P), Martin Tackie (P), Don Rice (A), Carole Stalheim (A), Darin Ulness (A) Committee business and newsMinutes for 4 December were approved. Mark reported that Biology has recently purchased a large-format printer, capable of handling 3-foot wide output, for producing posters and other materials. Primary access to the printer will be for members of the Sciences division. Committee members discussed potential overlap with the printer in Lighting Services and the need to deal with network access for the printer. Keith reported that Network Services is planning a test of providing 802.11b wireless access to off-campus students, faculty and staff in the area around campus, using an antenna on the top of Olin and a wireless access point in Olin. ResNet conversionThe switchover of the ResNet to 702 Communications is proceeding on schedule. Computer Services staff and Academic Computing met with 702 representatives on Monday (15 December) to finalize technical details of the transfer (assignment of IP addresses, necessary work on the fiber connections, allowable network protocols, bandwidth shaping options, ...), discuss procedures for coordinating tech support to students between 702 and PC Support, processes for handling spam and viruses, levels of service beyond the baseline, and how to publicize the change. In addition to standard service (which has a maximum bandwidth at individual ports of 256 Kbps), there will be two additional levels of service that students can subscribe to directly through 702 Communications (512 Kbps for $20 per month, 768 Kbps for $35 per month). Committee members discussed how and when to publicize the switchover. There will be an article in the Concordian soon. Also, information will be distributed through hall directors and there will be flyers from 702 Communications in all of the residence hall rooms. Vending has been moved off the ResNet and onto the main campus network; residence hall directors are next. Campus fiber needsErik provided follow-up information on the campus fiber needs issue. Estimates for the projected upgrades should be available in January. The additional fiber to the Grant Center through the skyway will need to go in next week. There is no need to rush the other upgrades, though. Sun projectSteve distributed budget summaries for the current year, as background for discussion on funding the components of the Sun JES project that will need to occur during the current budget year. Priority 1 and priority 2 items in the current budget do not use up the entire $470K available; the remaining funds can be used to support acquisition of test hardware, planning sessions with Sun staff, and needed training sessions for Computer Services staff. Department technology budget requestsBudget packets with the computer request sheets have gone out to department/program chairs. Committee members discussed what additional information should be shared with departments and/or individual faculty and staff. For example, faculty and staff should not expect automatic upgrades to office workstations. Mark will send an email to chairs to remind them to consult with faculty on needs. The major projects priority list has already been set. How to coordinate the technology budget planning and major projects planning is an ongoing issue. Student survey resultsBibhor reported on the technology portions of a recent survey of students done by Student Association. Students have many misconceptions about technology on campus (for example, "the campus should have a firewall"). Students expressed interest on the survey of having expanded wireless access. The library and other common spaces were mentioned. How to handle authentication for wireless access is an issue. Also, we currently have no information on how many students have devices that are wireless ready. This could perhaps be addressed in any follow-up survey. Next meeting will be January 8th. Keith Landa |
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