Tennessee Technological University

Information Technology Committee Minutes

PRESENT	                    PRESENT                     ABSENT
Dr. Jack Armistead          Dr. Martha Kosa             Dr. Sheila Green
Dr. Jon Booker              Dr. Bob Niebuhr
Mr. Frank Bush              Dr. Carl W. Owens           VISITORS
Mr. Rick Cashion            Dr. Gary Pickett            Dr. Marvin Barker
Ms. Taunia Coe              Dr. Jeff Plant              Dr. Bob Clougherty
Mr. Charlie Ferrill         Mr. Danny Reese             Ms. Tamara Guzlas
Dr. Tom Furtsch             Dr. Winston Walden          Ms. Monica Greppin
Mr. Bryan Gaitan            Ms. Darla Wilhite           Mr. Jerry Boyd
Dr. Craig Henderson         Mr. John Smith
Mr. W. J. Holcomb
Dr. Glenn James

The Information Technology Committee met at 3:00 p.m. on September 12th in the President's Conference Room. 

AGENDA AMENDMENT: Mr. John Smith made a motion to modify the agenda. Motion carried. 

Ms. Monica Greppin and Ms. Tamara Guzlas gave a presentation on Tennessee Tech's Webpage. 

APPROVAL OF AGENDA: Dr. Jon Booker made a motion to approve the agenda. Dr Jeff Plant seconded the motion. Motion carried. 

APPROVAL OF APRIL 4, 2002 MINUTES: Dr. Jon Booker made a motion to approve April 4, 2002 minutes. Dr. Carl Owens seconded the motion. Motion carried. 

IT ROUNDTABLE: Dr. Marvin Barker said that since the 1960's three things have occurred, the big inter cities University's have increased in enrollment, rural institutions have slowly declined. Dr. Barker said it seems obvious that Tech's future depends on taking our education elsewhere to students who have need, whenever they have a need, and wherever they have a need for education. Dr. Barker said if we are going to be competitive in that field, we have to do it with as much technology as possible, so 6 or 7 years ago we started something called the Information Roundtable. Dr. Barker asked Dr. Clougherty to shared the functions of the IT Roundtable. Dr. Clougherty said the IT Roundtable was a Central Think Tank and it focuses on specific issues. Functions: to share ideals, information exchanges, not action. The Think Tank has a Coordinator instead of a Chair. Rule of Liaison: To make sure no one person takes control. Advantages: Creates a level of discussion and communication of concerns. The IT Roundtable exchanges ideas and shares knowledge internally. Dr. Barker said the IT Roundtable is a free flowing communication, every idea is shared and evaluated, and no one is trying to push an agenda. Dr. Barker said the Think Tank is open to anyone, and it needs everyone's input.

LAPTOPS FOR FACULTY: Dr. Barker said we have made a couple of investments this year. We have a group of people who have taken an active role in online instruction. Dr. Barker said these 16 faculty members are to be provided with Instructional Technology Laptop computers and connectivity to the University. 

INSTITUTE FOR TECHNOLOGICAL SCHOLARSHIP: Dr. Clougherty said the Institute opened September 6, 2002, with 146 registered attendees. Dr. Clougherty said that so far the Institute has been very active, with 1 training class, and 46 hours of one-on-one training. Dr. Clougherty said we are also doing some consulting work with T-Dot. Dr. Clougherty also gave the hours the Institute would be open. 

ITS REPORTS: 

• Administrative Support Services: Richard Cashion
  Mr. Richard Cashion said we do have administrative systems and they are running. Mr. Cashion said that as far as the discussion from the last meeting about moving to the new system Banner, nothing has happened from the Board level. Mr. Cashion said the Eagle Card is on-line and running, and that we are adding functionality weekly. The Eagle Card will add security and vending machines before the end of the semester. Phase 2 is almost ready to get on-line to see who is eligible to receive scholarships. Mr. Cashion said if a department has a lab that will be using the Eagle Card, that department would be responsible for the cost.
   
• Academic Support Services and Micro Computer support: Frank Bush
  Mr. Bush reported to the committee that the ACS department has been doing a lot of extra work helping the Institute to open, and this has affected the responsibilities of that department. Mr. Bush said the position announcements for the Information Technology Services department are getting close to being approved. Mr. John Smith announced that 2 positions have already been posted to the Web. Mr. Bush said things have been done this fall to make ResNet more manageable in terms of getting people connected. He said 1400 computers in the dorms have network connections and the connections have been made hot in all rooms. Mr. Bush said we are taking on a new project, a software package called Footprints. This is an issue management system which can handle trouble calls, work orders, and projects and we are embarking on consolidating the different trouble calls systems we currently have into a common one that will help everyone on campus know the status of the work. This software will help the call management flow better and will allow people to submit problems over the web.
   
• Campus Network: Jerry Boyd
  Mr. Boyd said the biggest project this summer was wiring Tech Village and extending fiber to the Club House. All buildings have been wired and running 10/100 connections. 
   
  Mr. Boyd said we have purchased 5 additional high performance switches, which have been placed in Pennebaker, Henderson, Bartoo, Farr and Bruner. These switches make a difference in the performance in those locations. The goal is to get Internet connectivity in all offices. Mr. Boyd said we have approximately 2,651 hot connections for ResNet, and are showing in our database about 2,500 more connections on campus in offices, classrooms, etc.

WEB CT: Mr. Frank Bush handed out a WebCT update to the committee for review from Lauren Neal. 

TBR IT RESOURCE POLICY: Mr. Danny Reese said a copy of the policy has been sent out FYI, and will be posted to the Web in a few days. The TBR has been collecting information from campuses for the last year or so. For the most part, the Board has been doing what has been recommended. In sections 5 and 6 the policy talks about some restrictions and some specifics about how the Computers and resources should be used. 

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY PLAN: Mr. Reese said in a meeting last year that Dr. Pickett recommended that the Information Technology plan be sent out earlier. Mr. Reese said this item would be put on the agenda at the next Subcommittee meeting. Mr. Reese said he would like to start the plan earlier and would like to give the departments the opportunity to do the work they need to do. Mr. Reese hopes to get input back before Christmas if possible. 

ITC SUBCOMMITTEES: Dr. Jeff Plant was appointed as Chair of Academic Affairs Subcommittee. Dean Bob Niebuhr was moved to the Academic Affairs Subcommittee from the Administrative Affairs Subcommittee. Dr. Jon Booker made a motion to approve the Subcommittee. Dr. Carl Owens seconded the motion. Motion carried. 

SUCH OTHER MATTERS: Dr. Tom Furtsch heard a rumor that the IWeb server was hacked. Mr. Frank Bush said we would set a firewall up and this would block any illegitimate use. 

ADJOURN: Dr. Carl Owens made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 4:20 p.m. Dr. Bob Niebuhr seconded the motion. Motion carried.