FACULTY SENATE UNIVERSITY COMPUTER & ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE
 
MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF MARCH 15, 1996
 
Present:  D. Abbott, B. Botch, D. Chesley, R. Chilton, E. Cutting,  J. 
Dubach, G. Fisher, G. Fretwell, A. Gaylord, E. Goldwater, D. Hosmer, E. 
Hurn, T. Jackson, J. Kunkel, N. McIntosh, N. Sims, M. Wingertsman.
 
The minutes of the meeting of February 16th were accepted; also those of 
the November 16th meeting.
 
Student Computer Purchase
A memorandum from the Executive Committee to Deputy Chancellor Marcie 
Williams was distributed and will be sent today.  It asks for support in 
the dissemination of information from OIT in a mailing to incoming 
students on computer purchase possibilities together with strong 
Administration endorsement of student computer acquisition.  This 
memorandum takes the place of the Committee's previous proposal for a 
University-supported student lease/purchase program.
 
Analog Phone Lines
Consensus was reached that this is not a matter for full Committee 
discussion; instead, those concerned may resolve the issue among themselves.
 
Dial-up Lines Update
Handouts were distributed showing hourly use in February and March, and 
the increase in on-campus and off-campus capacity since September 1994, 
current capacity and that planned for June, 1996. 
 
Software License Support
D. Chesley described criteria used by OIT for software support and/or 
sale. Copies of a new price schedule from Microsoft, Novell and Lotus were 
distributed.  There was discussion of ways to interact directly with 
vendors, without going through OIT.  OIT is willing to act as a central 
agency when appropriate, but also encourages departments to conduct their 
own searches.  Information is available on the OIT web page. OIT was 
encouraged to establish more direct contact with departmental secretaries 
and to distribute more information through the Campus Chronicle.
 
Course Grade Management Update
A handout was distributed.  One course used the program successfully last 
fall; three or four will test it this spring.  The program is designed 
for instructors to use themselves rather than going through OIT.  A 
prerequisite for use of the program is for the Registrar to identify and 
link the instructor with the course, so the success of the program is 
dependent on the Registrar's ability to cooperate.
 
Library Networking Issues
The update on new Library technology was tabled until the next meeting.
 
Announcements
D. Abbott announced that a presentation would be given on the campus 
wiring project on March 20, and also that the forthcoming draft of the 
Strategic Plan for Information Technologies for the Amherst campus will 
be distributed to the Committee in time for the next meeting.
 
Respectfully submitted,
Nadia McIntosh, Secretary