November 19, 1998
PRESENT ABSENT Dr. Jeffrey Austen Dr. Carl Owens Mr. Rick Cashion Dr. Jon Booker Dr. Gary Pickett Dr. Cathy Cunningham Dr. Robert Briggs for Dr. Don Ramsey Dr. David Larimore Dr. Jack Armistead Dr. Patrick Reagan Mr. Charles Ferrill Dr. Rubye Torrey Mr. Jeff Gold Dr. Winston Walden Dr. Charles Hickman Prof. Carolyn Whitaker Dr. Raymond Holbrook Ms. Darla Wilhite Mr. Will Holcomb for Mr. James Westmoreland Ms. Danyel Bruggink Mr. Lucas Yeary Mr. Paul Isbell
The Information Technology Committee met at 11:00 a.m. on November 19, 1998 in Clement Hall, Room 206. Dr. Carl Owens called the meeting to order.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA: Mr. Jeff Gold made a motion to approve the agenda. Mr. Paul Isbell seconded the motion. Motion carried.
APPROVAL OF SEPTEMBER 10, 1998 MINUTES: Dr. Jon Booker made a motion to approve the minutes. Mr. Paul Isbell seconded the motion. Motion carried.
ITC STRATEGIC PLANNING SUBCOMMITTEE REPORT: Mr. James Westmoreland stated that new systems would be installed in several labs during the Christmas break including Clement Hall 313, Brown Hall 207, Bruner Hall 207, Bruner Hall 316, Farr Building 204, Bartoo Hall 106B, Foster Hall 326, South Hall 128 and Johnson Hall 214. There are over 600 computers available to students on campus. He presented a FY 1999 TAF Funded Projects Status Report as of November 2, 1998 and an Approved Projects for TAF Additional Fee Report for Fiscal Year 1999 to the committee members.
COMPUTER CENTER REPORT: Mr. Westmoreland asked for suggestions for the Information Technology planning process. Plans from the colleges and administrative units will be due February 26, 1999.
He discussed the Technology Access Fee funds and the appropriate ways that it can be used.
IRC AND RECREATIONAL COMPUTING POLICIES REVIEW: Dr. Jeffrey Austen stated the policies on Internet Relay Chat (IRC) and Recreational Computing are obsolete due to major changes in usage of the modem pool, Internet accessibility both on and off campus, and the campus computing environment. A subcommittee should be formed to study these issues and make a recommendation, he said. Dr. Carl Owens appointed Dr. Jeffrey Austen, Dr. Charles Hickman, and Dr. Gary Pickett to be on this subcommittee.
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY RESPONSIBLE USE POLICY: Dr. Austen said there is no policy on privacy of information stored and/or transmitted using campus computing and communications resources. He suggested that a policy needs to be formed, which is consistent with legal requirements (e.g., the Electronic Communications Privacy Act) and campus needs. He said a subcommittee should be formed to study these issues and make a recommendation. Dr. Owens appointed Dr. Jeffrey Austen, Dr. Rubye Torrey, and Dr. Carl Owens to act on this subcommittee. Dr. Gary Picket mentioned that the Code of Computing Practice may be related to this and this subcommittee should review it.
COPYRIGHT LAWS: Dr. Austen stated the following: The recently enacted "Digital Millennium Copyright Act" (H.R. 2281) contains a section addressing online copyright infringement which provides limitations for service provider liability if certain, relatively simple, conditions are met. Because publicly accessible materials, e.g., World-Wide Web pages are hosted on TTU computer systems, the university has potential exposure to copyright infringement liability. The Computer Center should take appropriate action to protect the university from this exposure.
SUCH OTHER MATTERS: Dr. Carl Owens appointed Dr. Ray Holbrook to be chairman of the Administrative Affairs Subcommittee.
There is a Web and Events Calendar recommendation and a memo from Ms. Monica Greppin that will be distributed at the next meeting.
ADJOURN: With no further business, the meeting adjourned at 11:50 a.m.