18-MAR-2008 Meeting Summary ** DRAFT **
Attendance: Art Acton, Jerry Belloit, Paul Bylaska, Dave Hartley, Darla Kurnal, Bob Nulph, Mike Phillips, Sam Puleio, Edna Reid, Steve Selker, Debbie Sobina, Terry Latour,
Approval of Prior Minutes
The 11-DEC-2007 Meeting Summary was approved
Membership Update
UTAC welcomed Darla Kurnal as the new student representative. UTAC membership is summarized at the UTAC website.
Smart Classroom Discussions
UTAC reviewed a report from the Smart Classroom subcommittee and noted the completion of the recent joint Clarion/Edinboro RFP for smart classroom equipment that will achieve a savings of some $1,650 per future smart classroom installation. With the pending Tech Fee renewal projects that will be implemented this summer, 7 rear-projection systems will be replaced with the new 'level 4b' standard configuration which includes an ceiling mounted projector. The committee also reviewed facility questions that are often raised with the classroom upgrades such as lighting, acoustics, and power.
The subcommittee also submitted its final report on "Classroom Response Systems" wherein a recommendation was made to select TurningPoint as our university classroom standard. To implement the standard, steps are needed to work with the book store to stock XR Clickers and support a "buy back" program, add a TurningPoint receiver to the standard smart classroom configuration (equipping all new rooms with the receiver and adding the receiver to existing rooms on a case by case basis based on College discussions), and to develop training and support program (and related web sites) through Computing Services. Provisions would be made for use of one older system already in use from another vendor in the next academic year until the new software is released to support the multiple concurrent testing feature. UTAC endorsed the recommendation which will now be routed to the Provost and Council of Deans.
Tech Fee Updates
- Reallocation Process for Summer 2008 Renewals: With a very small amount of equipment projected to be available from 2008 summer Tech Fee renewals, a call for former Tech Fee equipment will be delayed until the fall pending final decisions on two computer lab renewals.
- 2008-09 Notes: The 2008-09 call for proposals was initiated through the Deans and Vice Presidents on 2/29. The committee reviewed a draft of the 2008-09 Tech Fee budget and reviewed the continuing items for 2008-09 including allocations for the renewal projects, on-going fees for annual services, and the continuing phases of the Smart Classroom and Wireless initiatives. Proposals are due on 4/4; see the Tech Fee proposal web site for more info.
PASSHE PC Contract
Based on a System-wide RFP, the campus standard for PC purchases will be changing from Dell to Lenovo. The Clarion contract details are currently being finalized. As the agreement is finalized, Computing Services will announce Lenovo ordering information and a related web site to summarize the Lenovo equipment. The new procedures are expected in May.
Student E-mail RFP
PASSHE is releasing a Student E-mail Services RFP. Noting that UTAC had already initiated a local pilot program for Student E-mail Services, UTAC will be working with PASSHE to provide feedback on the RFP process. PASSHE is expected to be completed the process this semester.
Microsoft Office 2007/2008, Vista
The Office 2007 training program is advancing. Training guides have been posted on the web ( http://www.clarion.edu/31172/ ) and several courses have been offered. A new project is also being initiated to provide smaller segments of Office 2007 training information in an "on demand" format via streaming media services. New Office upgrades are expanding, including some120 faculty machines that are being replaced or cascaded with the new faculty PC purchases being coordinated through PEC/Deans. Mac Office continues to present file compatibility challenges as the minimum software requirements for both Office 2008 and the Office 2004 file converter are problematic on many campus machines. Planning efforts are in process to move our Mac environment to Office 2008 over the summer, completing related required operating system upgrades where needed.
UTAC also discussed Microsoft Vista. The Vista hardware requirements continue to be problematic for many campus machines. UTAC moved to maintain WindowsXP as the campus standard for Microsoft operating systems (with exceptions where needed for the CIS department). UTAC agreed to re-visit the Vista issue in December 2008.
