27-FEB-2007 Meeting Summary ** DRAFT **
Attendance: Yasser Ayad, Bob Balough, Paul Bylaska, Debbie Ciesielka, Marilyn Harhai, Dave Hartley, Terry Latour, Bob Nulph, Mike Phillips, Sam Puleio, George Seamon Jr., Steve Selker, Debbie Sobina
Approval of Prior Minutes
The 12-DEC-2006 Meeting Summary was approved (with notes included for related follow-up items that the committee agreed to complete via e-mail during the period 12/13/06 - 2/23/06).
Microsoft Vista, Office 2007
The committee discussed the new software released by Microsoft for the desktop operating system and the office suite. Both packages represent major upgrades. In mapping future directions and timelines for this software, various considerations were noted including alignment with instructional plans, file formats and compatibility, training, deployment requirements, and hardware requirements. Vista in particular will present challenges for existing campus hardware due to increased hardware requirements, particularly the minimum specifications for graphic processor and memory. UTAC agreed to form a subcommittee to review these issues in more detail and prepare recommendations for upgrade timelines. The subcommittee will include representatives from UTAC and the campus computer lab contacts.
2007-08 Tech Fee
Following the procedures previously outlined by UTAC, the 2007-08 call for Tech Fee proposals has been initiated with the President's Executive Council and the Council of Deans. Proposals are due in early April and they will be reviewed by the UTAC Technology Fee Review Subcommittee in time for full UTAC discussion at the next committee meeting on 24-APR-2007. Additional information about the Tech Fee process is available a by clicking here.
Tech Fee Renewal Subcommittee Report
The committee reviewed a report from the Tech Fee Renewal Subcommittee. Former Tech Fee projects (in this case primarily from 2003-04) were reviewed based on the renewal process established by UTAC last year. UTAC approved the recommended renewal projects which included a smart classroom refreshment project for Carter Auditorium, computer lab upgrades for the MEDIA project and Adaptive Technology labs, and laptop carts for Gemmell and Montgomery. The renewal project recommendations will be escalated to the Provost and the President's Executive Council. Approved projects will be implemented 2007-08. Another cycle of prior Tech Fee project reviews will be completed next year. Computing Services will notify project contacts before the end of the spring semester and provide them with an outline of the UTAC renewal procedures that they will need to complete in the fall.
Wireless Subcommittee Report
As discussed at the October UTAC meeting, the 06-07 Tech Fee plan includes phase 1 of a 3 phase project to deploy a wireless network across campus. UTAC previously agreed to target Becker and Montgomery halls as the first areas for this project. The wireless subcommittee reviewed the current wireless footprint on campus and the April 2006 wireless survey and proposed a ranked list of academic buildings to address in the remaining phases of the Tech Fee wireless initiative. The list was as follows: Stevens and Special Education, Frame, Davis, Founders, Hart, and Keeling. UTAC approved the proposed rankings; the UTAC recommendation will be escalated to the Provost, Deans, and President's Executive Council. It was noted that the wireless subcommittee will have some open items to resolve for 08-09, specifically wireless planning for construction-related locations (New Sci & Tech building, Marwick-Boyd, Becht, Tippin) along with wireless considerations for the Residence Halls.
Smart Classroom Subcommittee Report
The committee reviewed a report from the UTAC Smart Classroom Subcommittee that outlined the Subcommittee's findings and recommendations for the Tech Fee smart classroom initiative. Recommendations included revisions of the smart classroom equipment in the "level" definitions to refine the various components of the rooms (computer, audio, control system, projector, etc.) to optimize cost and maximize the smart classroom investments. It was also noted that facility considerations such as lighting systems would also be added to the review process for future smart classroom projects. Computing Services will work with the colleges and the subcommittee to review the facility planning issues and route any necessary facility requests through the Provost. UTAC endorsed the findings and the revised model will be used with the Deans in planning the college classrooms that are part of the Tech Fee initiative.
The subcommittee also raised questions about considerations for classroom response systems as part of the UTAC smart classroom model. UTAC asked the subcommittee to review the response system issue in more detail (including discussions with faculty that are using or requesting the systems) and pursue a recommendation for UTAC for a preferred classroom response system model.
