12-DEC-2006 Meeting Summary
Note: This meeting summary includes business conducted at the 12-DEC-2006 meeting and related follow-up items that the committee agreed to complete via e-mail during the period 12/13/06 - 2/23/06).
Attendance: Art Acton, Bob Balough, Paul Bylaska, Marilyn Harhai, Dave Hartley, Terry Latour, Bob Nulph, Mike Phillips, Sam Puleio, George Seamon Jr., Steve Selker, Debbie Sobina, Harry Tripp
Approval of Prior Minutes
The 24-OCT-2006 Meeting Summary was approved.
Membership Update and Spring Meetings
George Seamon Jr. was welcomed as the new student member of the committee. UTAC membership is summarized by clicking here.
Spring UTAC meetings will be held on 27-FEB-2007 and 24-APR-2007 (re: Meeting Information & Minutes)
Tech Fee Equipment Redistribution Report
UTAC reviewed the report from the Tech Fee Review subcommittee. 106 computer systems of various configurations were available for reallocation. 26 proposals were received requesting over 165 systems. The subcommittee evaluated the proposals based on guidelines as defined by PASSHE which stated "Equipment originally purchased with fee revenues that has been replaced or upgraded after three or more years of use may be redeployed to other uses or disposed of at the discretion of the university (redeployment to uses in support of student learning is strongly encouraged)". Based upon a common theme and having the greatest impact on student learning, all requests for upgrading computers in smart / ITV classrooms were recommended by the subcommittee.
Questions were raised about funding repairs needed for the reallocated equipment. As noted on the request form, UTAC confirmed that this equipment is not covered under warranty and it is the responsibility of the College / department to fund any related repairs. One exception was noted for PC's that were allocated for smart classroom usage; these machines would be eligible for non-warranty repairs within the constraints of the Tech Fee non-warranty repair fund. Regarding the small number of Macs that were unclaimed, an allocation of those units will be determined with the Council of Deans.
2007-08 Tech Fee
Note: The Science and Technology Building discussions below were held via e-mail in FEB-2007, including a special UTAC meeting on 2/14/07.
In considering the 2007-08 Tech Fee proposal process, UTAC reviewed the issue of projects for the new Science & Technology building. In 2004-05, the approved Tech Fee proposal submitted to PASSHE included a request to escrow funds for future projects for the new building. The request was ultimately denied by PASSHE as escrows for future projects were not permitted. With that development, alternate Tech Fee projects were identified for implementation in 2004-05 in place of the escrow.
The new Science & Technology building is projected to open Fall 2009. With the Tech Fee timelines, that leaves two Tech Fee cycles (07-08, 08-09) for full completion of any projects for the new building prior to the opening date. In planning discussions with Arts & Sciences, many potential projects have been identified including a variety of new labs and laptop carts and smart classroom capabilities for the classrooms and labs. In reviewing these plans and recognizing the building timelines, the committee discussed the role, level, and timing of Tech Fee funding for projects in the new buildings.
In considering the needs for the new building, the committee inquired about other possible funding sources. Questions were raised about the construction budget for the building and the allocation within that budget to address furniture and equipment. P. Bylaska noted that, while the original feasibility study in 2001 did have some funding for furniture, raw material escalations since then have more than accounted for that allocation. As such, the Commonwealth funding will only cover bricks & mortar (if that). Questions were also raised about current or past Academic Affairs funds that had been set aside specifically for the new building. This question was escalated to the Provost and she confirmed that no specific funds were set aside for the new building as any such funds that would have been available for the building had to be redirected to deficit reduction. Finally, questions were raised about the equipment funding from the capital fundraising campaign at the Foundation. H. Tripp noted that there is a $3 million goal for the new building, but $2.7 million is required as matching funds for the construction. If the full goal is realized, some of the balance would be available for furniture and equipment. However, he cautioned against planning on those funds as the source of the technology projects as, consistent with national trends, there are a variety of challenges ahead with raising specific or unrestricted funds for a capital project.
Regarding Tech Fee funding, it was noted that the current Tech Fee plans include an allocation of 20% of available funds for the wireless campus project and 40% of available funds for the smart classroom project which were identified as multiple year initiatives as part of the strategic technology planning completed last year. That leaves 40% for Tech Fee projects. The committee debated the allocation of the Tech Fee dollars for the new building and the role of the new building as a university-level priority vs. the possible requests from other areas. It was noted that the wireless and smart classroom initiative do apply across all colleges -- as well as to the new building. Nonetheless, the future allocation levels for the wireless and smart classroom initiatives may need to be re-examined in light of the potential need and priority for the new building. For any 2007-08 Science & Tech building proposals, timing was again noted as an important consideration as Tech Fee projects cannot be escrowed; any near-term projects would need to be completed now and moved to the new building later.
While the potential university-level scope and priority of the new building was recognized, the general conclusion of the committee was that the normal call for Tech Fee proposals should be still be completed for all areas for 2007-08. Projects for the new building would then be submitted along with the other proposals and evaluated within the normal prioritization and review cycle for Tech Fee projects. The 2007-08 Tech Fee call for proposals will move forward in February after a review with PEC/Deans.
Technology Planning Notes
- Subcommittees have been formed for the wireless and smart classroom initiatives noted at the October meeting. Reports from those subcommittees will be ready for the February meeting.
- The anti-spam tool testing noted ot the October UTAC meeting has been completed and final procurement is in progress. The new anti-spam tool will be placed into production between the fall and spring semesters.
- The RFP has been released for a web content management system that is one part of a plan to update the university's brand marketing and web design. Responses will be reviewed in February.
- In discussing other potential initiatives for UTAC review in the spring, committee members identified new e-mail pilots and student laptops as other topics of interest. B. Nulph noted that the Faculty Senate Technology Subcommittee was going to review the current status and future planning options for Faculty PC's.
Daylight Saving Time
Effective 2007, the Daylight Saving Time (DST) schedule will begin three weeks earlier and extend one week later than it has in the past. The Federal Energy Policy Act specifies the following DST changes (with the dates for 2007 listed):
- Previous start: first Sunday of April (1 Apr. 2007)
- New start: second Sunday of March (11 Mar. 2007)
- Previous end: last Sunday of October (28 Oct. 2007)
- New end: first Sunday of November (4 Nov. 2007)
This policy change has a variety of implications for a wide range of computer hardware and software. Computing Services has already applied or will soon apply patches to our primary servers. Appropriate updates will also be pushed to campus PCs and Macs where possible. Patches may also be needed for PDA's, specialized applications, and a variety of network based equipment; Computing Services is in the process of reviewing these areas with appropriate offices. Computing Services will publish a web site and a campus e-mail update with more detailed information about DST updates and issues in February.
