Instructional Infrastructure Advisory Committee

The Instructional Infrastructure Advisory Committee held its first meeting of AY 2003-04 on Wednesday, 1 October in Olin 319, convened at 4 PM by Dennis Henry, the committee's liaison member from AOC. All members were present: Jonathan Smith, Scott Moore, David Koppenhaver, Tim Peterson, Dennis Henry, and Deborah Downs-Miers. As were the ex officio members: Jo Ellen Schulz, Sarah Daniels, Bruce Aarsvold, Dan Mollner, John Mosbo, and Pat Francek. Joyce Aarsvold was also present.

After brief discussion, Dennis Henry was elected Chair and Deborah Downs-Miers was elected Secretary for this academic year.

As per the agenda distributed prior to the meeting, Dennis reviewed the Faculty Manual language governing this committee. He reported receiving several complaints by faculty about problems with e-mail, classroom and lab computer performance, and network issues, beginning in late summer. Sarah Daniels' title has been changed to Director of Administrative Information Systems. M. Braun to be notified.

Stacia Senne to be queried regarding representation from Marketing and Public Relations.

Meeting calendar set: 26 November, 25 February, 17 and 31 March (2 meetings if necessary to complete allocations), 21 April, and 12 or 17 May if necessary.

It is agreed that we will follow a published agenda and that Minutes will be available on the Web.

REPORTS

Ex Officio:

Bruce Aarsvold, IT--About 3000 desktops connected. 90% of First Year students brought computers, half of which are laptops. Believes the virus problems and other difficulties are coming to an end.

Dan Mollner, Library--Wants to investigate use of electronic classroom in Library. This is regarding the increasing presence of student-owned computers. What is relative use, etc. Also: our system is moving from PALS by January, necessitating a new catalogue.

John Mosbo, Dean--Urges IIAC to provide longer-term planning re acquisition cycles. Pat Francek, AV--Announced the ex officio members now constitute a formal group known as Tech Directors; they meet as a group every other week. They need, as IIAC does, to see budget details in a timely fashion in order to make good recommendations. Also, academic computing needs are often partly met by contributions from other Tech Directors.

Tech Directors will share their Minutes with IIAC.

JoEllen Schulz, Telecommunications--The huge increase in cell phone use has caused diminished revenues, which are being balanced in a variety of creative ways. There is a need for more phones in Chemistry labs; this is a safety issue.

Sarah Daniels, Director of Administrative Information Systems--There has been changes in the Web Advisor. Asks to be notified immediately of any changes made in/by IT or Administrative Information Systems. Important that IIAC be carefully apprised of Tech collaboration. (See above under Francek.)

Divisional Representatives:

Jonathan Smith, Natural Sciences--Reiterated JoEllen's statement about need for more phones in labs. Wishes more clarity in the forms used to request allocation about intended use--eg: research, instruction. We need to shorten the upgrade cycle for replacing desktop computers.

Scott Moore, Fine Arts--Voiced appreciation to IT for information about student use of computers, etc.

David Koppenhaver, Education and Health Science: Supports long-term planning. Requests that at next meeting we look at the allocation process, with concrete detail about our actual expenditures. Is there a Capital Fund line for "Technology"? Good idea to share information about any proposals to fund technology. This information should always be sent to IIAC.

Tim Peterson, Social Sciences--No report.

Deborah Downs-Miers, Humanities: The institutional culture needs to recognize that Divisions and Departments and disciplines have varying and distinct needs in regard to technology. Important not to have a monolithic template re acquisition.

NEW BUSINESS

In regard to the allocation process, it is most important for Department Chairs to communicate to Department members precisely what the Department is requesting on their behalf.

Considered a faculty laptop request. Determined it is necessary to review our criteria AND to have the concrete details about our expenditures in the last allocation cycle (Spring 2003).

As we next meet in later November, we will handle much of this via email.

Meeting adjourned at 5:50 PM.

Deborah Downs-Miers, Secretary