University Council on Technology

12/13/96 Minutes

3:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

319 Kent Student Center

Kent Campus


Present: Murali Shanker for Catherine Bakes, Johnnie Baker, James Boyd, Dave Cannon, Bernie Rogers for Helen Carpenter, Raymond Craig, Rosemary Du Mont, Peggy Doheny, Alan Evans, Paul Farrell (Chair), Barbara Hanniford, Alice Iden, Larry Jones, John Kerstetter, Terry Kuhn, Dewitt Latimer (Secretary), Pamela Mitchell, Bruce Petryshak, Pam Ramey, Roberta Sikula, Darrell Turnidge, Kevin West and Denise Zelko

Absent: Lowell Croskey and David Baumgartner


Dr. Paul Farrell (Chair), welcomed everyone and called the meeting to order at 3:35 p.m.

The minutes of the November 6, 1996 meeting were approved as submitted. Past Council minutes and agendas can be found at http://www.kent.edu/UCT


Procedural Items

Paul Farrell stated he had an issue regarding the Council's Web page. Paul asked Dewitt if the Web page should be restricted to the University community only or if it should be made available to all.

John Kerstetter made a motion to restrict the draft to the Kent State community and when finalized then release to all. This motion was seconded by Johnnie Baker. It was voted on with all being in favor.

Barbara Hanniford asked about the time frame in which materials had to be submitted to be included in the packets and minutes Dewitt Latimer (Secretary) stated that nine days were needed make corrections to the minutes and to get agenda items and/or information into the advanced packets.


Old Business

Standing Instructional Classroom Committee

John Kerstetter restated that the purpose of the standing committee on Classroom Technologies was to assure that the classrooms and classroom instruction be an integral component of the University's technology plans and that a holistic approach be used when applying technology to Kent's academic programs. Because a major segment of the academic program, teaching, occurs in classrooms Kerstetter stated that it is important that they be part of the big picture. He further stated that the definition of technology should include the more traditional audiovisual items as well as computer and network based technologies.

Dewitt Latimer questioned the difference in the roles of the two concepts, and if there was an overlap of this committee and Distributed Learning.

In response to the relationship between classroom technologies and initiatives being developed by Distributed Learning, Kerstetter stated that while he did not see overlapping responsibilities, there is opportunity for a close working relationship. He saw Distributed Learning -- Curricular more as the software or program development and the Classroom Technologies committee as the provider of equipment, room and systems design, and support service for faculty.

Rosemary Du Mont suggested that the same people might end up serving on both the Distributed Learning and Classroom Technologies committee and their interest in equipment might overlap. Thus possibly it would make better sense for the DL committee to also include Classroom Technologies in their charge.

Dewitt Latimer suggested an amendment to the motion that they go with an ad hoc status and see what the groups are going to do, and if nothing collides to reconsider the motion in the Spring. A motion was made and approved to change the Standing Instructional Classroom Committee to an ad hoc committee.

Standing Networking Committee

Paul Farrell stated that networking was so pervasive and integral to all three standing committees that a standing committee might be warranted. He also stated that he felt a standing committee was needed to take broad view of all networking problems and implications where the other 3 standing committees might take a very narrowly focused look based on their limited charge.

Bruce Petryshak suggested that the network committee be formed on an ad hoc basis and the existing task force on intra-building wiring could be reinstated as the network committee.

Dewitt Latimer agreed with the suggestion and moved as with the proposal on classroom technologies, to table the current motion until the Spring. If in the Spring, it looks like networking ad-hoc committee will continue to make a valuable and long-term contribution to the Council, then the motion to make it a standing committee can be revisited.

Dave Cannon asked if there were other committees that were working with networking. Greg Seibert responded that there was a task force on intra-building wiring and a Kent Network Users Group (KNUG).

Pam Ramey stressed that networking advice will still need to be given to academic, administrative, and distributed learning committees.

Greg Seibert feels that the charge might be too broad to get anything done.

Paul Farrell withdrew his motion until he can talk with Ilee Rhimes.

Changes to the bylaws

Paul Farrell referred to the handout packet with the proposed changes to section 7.a of the current bylaws. This was put into a motion and to accepted without any objections.

Task force on Instructional & Research Computing

Paul Farrell stated there would be no attempt to write charges today. He asked how is the charge from this task force committee different from the standing committee.

Dewitt Latimer will work to develop a charge for the task force in hopes of clarifying its role with respect to the standing academic committee. Dewitt Latimer asked if someone would like to help write the charge. Terry Kuhn, James Boyd, Alan Evans, and Bruce Petryshak said they would be glad to help. Other nominees will be solicited including representation from the Faculty Senate.

Rosemary Du Mont said she would distribute a copy of the Academic Computing Study to everyone before the next meeting. This would help in defining the role of the standing committee and the task force.

Task force on Remote Access

Bruce Petryshak commented that the technology issues surrounding remote access are not difficult to deal with. The issues that will be more difficult to deal with concern policy and the identification of a funding model. Also, care should be given to make sure that the model identified includes the concerns of the regional campuses. Bruce distributed a draft of a charge for consideration.

Greg Seibert stated that the scope of the problem will change if we include, in addition to the Kent Campus, regional campuses.

Election of Vice-chair

Larry Jones made a motion to nominate Terry Kuhn. This was seconded and voted on. All were in favor.

Dewitt Latimer stated that the vice chair is to be a high level position that will support the Chair with procedural matters. This position is not a clerical position. Clerical support matters are remanded to the Secretary of the Council.


New Business

Charge to Chairs of Standing Committees

Paul Farrell stated that these should be representative committees and not technical committees. He cited the Ohio Supercomputer Center as an example where user's groups drive the decisions.

Rosemary Du Mont stated that the Distributed Learning Policy Committee is completing its final report and that a lot of input has been received from the faculty participants.

Strategic Planning

Paul Farrell stated that a main duty of the Council was to engage in strategic planning and to form one integrated, creditable strategic plan that included a technology vision for the future. The Council should aim at creating an initial a three year plan. After the first year, UCT should review the progress in what was achieved and update the plan accordingly.

Relationship to Existing Ad-hoc Technology Committees

Four distributed learning committees were set up by the President. Three of these committees are in the process or completing their charge and disbanding. It is proposed that the fourth committee on Faculty Development be rolled into the Council as the standing committee of distributed learning.

A intra-building wiring task force chaired by Greg Seibert has been establish to examine and recommend a strategy for the internal wiring of all Kent campus buildings. It reports to VP Ilee Rhimes. Greg Seibert thought that it would be appropriate to also seek the advice of the UCT during this process.

A policy register task force chaired by Jim Watson has been established to review the University's policy register and make recommendations as to where it needs to be updated with respect to technology. The task force reports to VP Charles Green. No relationship has been established with the Council as of yet.


Open Discussion

Barb Hanniford suggested that we defer the motion on creating an ad-hoc committee to examine professional development until the next meeting making it old business. This was agreed on by all.


Schedule 3 Spring Meetings

January 31, 1997 3:00 p.m. Room 319 KSC

March 14, 1997 3:00 p.m. Room 319 KSC

April 25, 1997 3:00 p.m. Room 319 KSC


Adjournment

Larry Jones made a motion to adjourn the meeting and it was seconded. The meeting adjourned at 5:17 p.m.

c: Provost Myron Henry

Vice President Ilee Rhimes

President Carol Cartwright