The rapid growth of technology and pressures for its use in education necessitate a basic minimum authentication of and connectivity among all members of the University Community.

 

            The current partial connectivity within our community is based on a protocol for obtaining an OIT account which includes being billed for a (non-mandatory) fee before one is connected.

 

            While the Committee recognizes that a revenue issue is involved, it believes that there are better options for producing the required revenue stream than the continuation of the present policy. The Committee urges that the current protocol be changed to include an initial basic connectivity which is issued to all members of the University community, so that they can be authenticated within our system, communicate, and participate in courses that require internet communication and file transfer.

 

            Therefore, the Committee recommends that the Faculty Senate adopt the following resolution which was passed by the Committee on February 7, 2001:

 

WHEREAS

            The need for information technology services has become fundamental to the academic enterprise and the current ‘optional fee’ based funding structure has resulted in:

(1) inequities, including that not all students have access to

a) OIT labs,

b) OIT course resources provided through WebCT,

c) all-campus mailings and announcements,

d) online file storage;

and

(2) duplication of effort among University entities, including

a) authentication services for electronic resources, and

b) email services;

BE IT RESOLVED THAT

 

            Every member of the University community should have access to OIT services without payment of an ‘optional fee.’

MOTION That the Faculty Senate endorse the resolution passed by the University Computer and Electronic Communications Committee that would provide all members of the University community with access to OIT services.