Tennessee Technological University

Information Technology Committee Minutes

PRESENT						   ABSENT

Mr. Frank Bush                                     Dr. Sheila Green
Mr. Rick Cashion                                   Dr. Jeff Plant       
Dr. Jon Booker                                     Dr. Martha Kosa
Ms. Taunia Coe                                     Dr. Jack Armistead
Dr. Tom Furtsch                                    Dr. Francis Otuonye
Dr. Craig Henderson                                Mr. Jodie Swafford                     
Ms. Darla Wilhite                            
Mr. Charlie Ferrell
Mr. Eric Brown representing Dr. Martha Kosa
Mr. John W. Smith                                  VISITORS
Dr. Paul Semmes representing Dr. Jack Armistead
Dr. Glen Johnson                                   Mr. Jerry Boyd
Mr. Rob Finegan representing Dr. Gary Pickett      Mr. Eric Brown
Dr. Winston Walden                                 Mr. Jim Johnson
Mr. Kevin Givens                                   Ms. Lauren Neal

The Information Technology Committee met at 3:00 p.m. on October 4, 2001 in Clement Hall room 206. Dr. Winston Walden called the meeting to order.

APPROVAL OF AGENDA: Dr. Jon Booker made a motion to approve the agenda. Mr. Jim Johnson seconded the motion. Motion carried.

ITS REPORTS: 

• Administrative Support Services - Mr.Richard Cashion.
  Mr. Cashion reported to the committee that as of October 1, the Administrative Information System Support department is fully staffed with the addition of Mr. Ronald Franklin. The Student Internship is still to be filled and the first phase of the Scholarship Management System when into production on October 1, 2001. Mr. Cashion said the Campus One Card project team is currently evaluating the proposals from vendors. Over the next three weeks, vendors will make presentations. We are working on opening a price proposal early November and award the contract soon thereafter. The housing option in SIS will be implemented for the spring semester 2002. There have been changes in licensing, development and support strategies with Campus Pipeline. Because of this, the project is on hold until several issues are resolved.
   
• Academic Support Services - Mr. Frank Bush
  Mr. Bush reported to the committee that two vacant positions remain unfilled in the Academic Computing Support department, Academic Computing Specialist and Academic Computing Support Manager. There are 32 PC Labs administered by Gary Andraza. One third of the labs were upgraded during FY2000-2001. From those labs 150, PC's were relocated to faculty/staff offices. Mr. Bush said that a great deal of time has been spent defending against and fighting viruses. At the PC desktop level, we are changing from Command AntiVirus to Norton AntiVirus. Alumni email has been keeping email accounts open for students who graduated in the spring or summer terms. Two people from the systems group and one from ACS completed a week of SQL Server Programmer training, and two people from the systems group completed a week of SQL Server Administrator training. In addition, one person from systems attended a three-day seminar on Active Directory and Exchange Server 2000, one person from ACS attended the WebCT conference; and one person from systems completed a week course in network management on Foundry gear.
   
• Campus Network - Jerry Boyd
  Mr. Boyd reported to the committee the following upgrades to the campus network. Upgraded backbone to gigabit uplinks to various building. Upgraded seven buildings to gigabit. Kicked off 10 100 switches, put in approiate places. Several buildings went wireless, public access not secured. University Center running bridge at Tech Village. Project in Tech Village on the west side going wireless, upgrade in fiber, 10 miles of fiber upgrade. T-100 connections in all office except Tech Village.
   
• MicroComputer Support - Jim Johnson
  Jim Johnson told the committee that the Microcomputer Support office has been very backlogged due to John Stevens leaving June 30, 2001 and the large volume during the summer and beginning of the Fall semester. Mr. Johnson has a staff of 14 students to handle as many of the calls as possible, but even simple installs can take as much as two weeks. Further, difficult calls requiring Mr. Johnson's direct attention can take as much as two to four months. Mr. Johnson commented that Kevin Givens has done an excellent job of managing the Residential Network connections with about 1100 students connected so far.
   
• Web CT - Lauren Neal
  Ms. Neal reported to the committee that approximately 50 to 60 faculties are using Web CT and there are 90 to 100 courses. Approximately 160-165 professors and 23 student and Grad students have had training. A total of 2600-2700 students and faculty are using WebCT. Ms. Neal talked about the new faculty Development Lab, she said it would be a Training Lab, need less security, has a scanner work area, video camera, and would have four offices.

ITC SUBCOMMITTEE: Mr. Winston Walden reported to the committee that Mr. Danny Reese was Chair of the Planning Committee, Dr. Glen Johnson was Chair of the Academic Affairs Committee, and Mr. John Smith was Chair of the Administration Committee. Dr. Tom Furtsch and Dr. Craig Henderson were put on the Strategic Planning Committee with their approval. Ms. Taunia Coe was put on the Administrative Committee with her approval. Mr. Walden said he would ask Dr. Francis Otuonye to serve on the Academic Affairs Committee. 

SUCH OTHER MATTERS: Mr. Reese told the committee that the ITS department had approval to get three new positions. The new positions will be in the following areas: Systems Support, General Web Support, and MicroComputer Support. Mr. Reese said the Academic Computing Manager position would be advertised. Mr. Reese handed a copy of the TAF plan 2001-2002 to the committee. Motion was made to put the TAF Plan on the agenda for the next meeting. 

ADJOURN: Dr. Carl Owens made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 3:45p.m. Dr. Jon Booker seconded the motion. Motion carried.