FACULTY SENATE UNIVERSITY COMPUTER AND ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE

DRAFT MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF APRIL 14, 1999, Room 903, Campus Center

Approved:

Present: S. Brewer, J. Dubach, G. Fisher, G. Forman, A. Gaylord, M. Hanley, E. Hurn, T. Jackson, B. MacDougall (Chair), N. Sims, M. Wingertsman

Bruce MacDougall call the meeting to order at 10:35 a.m.

1. Approval of Minutes: The Committee approved the minutes of the March 31, 1999 meeting.

2. Announcements (all from John Dubach)

A new group of 477-5600 modems are now in the pool.
There is a problem with Bell Atlantic. Busy signals are occurring when the line is not busy.
Back from a TLTR training session, John talked to the Provost about proceeding with the program. They will start with a small group. Plans will be announced in the next few weeks.

3. Old Business (Subcommittee on Mandatory Computer Ownership)

Gene Fisher reported the deliberations of the committee thus far. The conclusion: "a campus-wide mandatory computer ownership policy is not needed. Access to computers is already widespread and growing. The committee should instead focus on ways to increase access to computers of those who cannot afford a computer."
Several points of the Subcommittee's report were discussed. These included the low price of computers (in some cases, free), the availability of financial aid, differing departmental standards, and the need to strengthen and increase departmental computing facilities.
It was noted that while the recent Project Pulse survey shows that students now have wide access to PC's, we need a survey to determine how satisfied students and faculty are with the services they have and what access to specialized software and equipment is needed. Perhaps TLTR could do this.
The report of the Subcommittee was accepted by a unanimous vote.

4. New Business

5. The meeting adjourned at 1l:50 a.m.

Respectfully Submitted

Gene A. Fisher