FACULTY SENATE UNIVERSITY COMPUTER AND ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE

MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF Dec 05, 2000, Room 217, Stockbridge Hall

Approved: Feb. 07, 2001

Present: S. Brewer, J. Dubach, G. Hough, T. Jackson, J. Kunkel (Chair), N. Sims

Joe Kunkel called the meeting to order at 12:30 p.m.

1. The minutes of the Nov. 1, 2000 meeting were approved with corrections.

2. Announcements

a. John Dubach shared some information with us about the budget for the next fiscal year. The total suggested budget is $15 million but OGCA has been requested to prepare 3, 5 and 8% cut scenarios. For the record, the OIT fee went from $20 to $30 per semester last year or $30 twice a year. If OIT got $50 from everyone that would cover the budget; but only 60-70% pay the fee so the fee needs to be higher. It needs to generate $750,000 per year.

3. Old Business

A. Crafting a Motion on eliminating the computer account fee
(1) discussion on this item revolved around whether we were suggesting that the fee not be collected or that it be obtained in a more automatic manner as part of the registration process. All agreed on the goal of everyone having an identification/vallidation code and an Email account but such an account might not have the full privileges that our current accounts carry.
(2) Steve Brewer crafted a preliminary motion that was discussed and we suggested changes. Steve will post the compilation of suggested changes in the form of a new motion via Email to out list.

B. Response to the Board of Higher Education mandate of student laptop ownership.
(1) this issue was dealt with by our committee in the Spring of 1999. A subcommittee chaired by Gene Fisher and composed of G. Foreman, E. Cutting, A. Gaylord, C. Giloth and M. Wingertsman was formed. No report from that subcommittee is in the archives.
(2) it was suggested that we invite a representative of financial aid to speak to us on this topic.
(3) it was also suggested that we invite Norm Aitken to represent the TLTR proxy side on this and other issues.

4. New Business

A. Development of an IT clearinghouse to unify efforts proceeding on campus.
(1) In the absence of Marilyn Hanley the promoter of this issue I accepted suggestions from the committee as to what on-campus and within system IT initiatives were afloat. John Dubach suggested that he had a list of IT initiative links that he could share with us via Email on returning to his office.
(2) John further offered a few observations on initiatives he could identify. (a) An IT minor was being considered. (b) The IT Council of the 5 Campuses has a website with the Presidents Office. (c) The Higher Ed Website deals with IT issues. (d) UMass Online will identify a platform by March 12 (Peoplesoft being a major contender). (e) The Research Council has an ad hoc IT subcommittee.

B. On campus solutions to speed
(1) the next increase in speed is an expensive step involving OC3, 155 megabits per second (100 T1s).
(2) communications over the internet have now reached equity with respect to transactions concerning only our trunk or including the broader internet. Both represent about 0.5 million per day. The trend is toward greater communication with the broader internet.
(3) Media One and the University have begun discussions of possible cooperation.

5. The meeting adjourned at 14:00

Respectfully Submitted

Joseph G. Kunkel

joe@bio.umass.edu