Minutes

March 5, 1999

Media Center, Willard Hall Room 005

Present: Don Adams (Philosophy), Paul Altieri (Economics), David Blitz (Honors Program), Tom Burkholder (Chemistry), Thom Delventhal (Theatre), Rae Schipke (English), Li-Ning Huang (Communication), Antonio Garcia-Lozada (Modern Languages), Clayton Penniman (Biological Sciences), Robert Wolff (History), Marc Triebwasser (Political Science), Joan Calvert (Computer Science), John Mitrano (Sociology/Social Work), Dan Larose (Mathematical Sciences), Sheri Fafunwa (Art).

Guests: Jeff Thompson (CSU), Roy Temple (Media Center), Ann Gargula (Media Center), John Rutherford (Library), Brian O'Connell (Computer Science).

Paul Altieri and Marc Triebwasser, Committee Co-chairs, conducted the meeting which began at 2:05 p.m. The order of the agenda was suspended to allow Jeff Thompson to address the committee first.

1. The committee asked Jeff to bring us up to date on changes in the campus and CSU networks. He explained the convergence of voice, data and video over the network and the Internet. With new hubs data moves at higher speed.
   
   The State Education Network is a consortium of UCONN, CSU, the Community Technical Colleges, the State Library, the State Department of Education and the State Armory. Eventually all of these agencies will be linked via a high speed network. This will allow collaboration from one area to another. Robert Wolff noted that this will be very helpful in working with teachers in the K-12 systems.
   
   CSU will have a part in the upgrade to Internet-2. CSU will be linked to the new high speed network through a connection to UCONN.
   
   A discussion about campus computer choices and budgets ensued. Some of the issues raised were how CSU funds technology in the classroom, the need for a separate academic computing budget to cover computer peripherals, software used for teaching, faculty training, etc., the difficulty of making computer and computer-related purchases from department budgets, choice in faculty software (such as word processors) and the lack of faculty input into hardware and software decisions.
   
   Jeff explained CSU's role in these matters and how the same issues are addressed on the other campuses. CSU funds technology initiatives on the campuses, but most decisions on the use of funds are made locally. CSU licenses software for use on all campuses, such as SPSS, SAS, ArcInfo, and Minitab. He was not opposed to faculty using non-Microsoft products, but he was concerned about the support issue if faculty wanted to use a number of different word processors, databases, etc. He confirmed Marc Triebwasser's thought that if software and peripherals are purchased along with computers as part of a package, equipment money can be used for both the computer and the software. Our present method of buying standard computers, then adding hardware and software later out of OE money puts a heavy burden on departmental OE budgets. At Western an Academic Computing Council makes purchase decisions on hardware and software based on faculty recommendations.
   
   
2. The minutes of February 5, 1999, were approved (Wolff/Burkholder).
   
   
3. Announcements:
   Departments are required to include computer purchases in their budgets. A list of leased computers by department was distributed to chairs. Members asked that copies of computer related communications also be sent to Computer Committee Representatives.
   
   Departments should submit plans for long-range technology needs to the Dean's Office by March 15. The support position in the Microcomputer Lab has not yet been filled. The first candidate was offered the job but turned us down. Interviews will be held next week for the position of University Web Publisher (webmaster). The Dean is asking for a new staff position, a Technology Specialist for the School of Arts & Sciences, in her budget. This would be a full-time AFSME position.
   
   
4. The Committee discussed a number of issues relative to campus policies. There was general agreement that our concerns should be addressed to those who are in a position to affect these policies. The question was moved (Blitz/Penniman) and passed unanimously.
   
   The Committee Co-Chairs will draft a position paper for addressing the question of computer budgets, computer leases, faculty choices of hardware and software, the choice of laptop or desktop computers and the distribution of computers to individual faculty.
   
   
5. The Committee reviewed the latest revision of the Arts and Sciences Web Policy. Some additional changes were agreed upon. The document will be revised to incorporate the changes and the Committee will vote on the policy at the next meeting.
   
   
6. Motion to adjourn (Burkholder/Wolff). The meeting was adjourned at 4:00 p.m.