Computer Committee

Meeting Minutes

Meeting: 29 March 2002
LCC 115 10:00-11:30 p.m.

PRESENT: M. Anderson, W. Dorin, R. Kini, C. Scott (Chair), T. Stabler, and C. Wood, M. Uncapher and D. Steward, ex officio.

ABSENT: N. DeLeon, J. Gerzema (on leave), S. Higgins, J. Knapp (on leave), R. Selladurai

1. The meeting opened with a review of the Fall 2002 laboratory build schedule provided by M. Uncapher. No changes were made to the proposed schedule and the chair was charged to distribute it to the faculty and staff. The only modification to the proposal was to separate the discussion/warning about Windows XP and Office XP from the schedule when sent to the faculty.
2. Next the committee reviewed the proposed Fall 2002 laboratory build content for both PC's and MAC's. Some discussion followed concerning not continuing to support WS-FTP, but it is being replaced by Bloomington 's SSH (secure socket software which replaces FTP with a program called Hummingbird). W. Dorin indicated that it was desirable to replace the Microsoft Visual Studio with the Microsoft Visual .NET package. However, this would require a separate PERL program and inclusion of the Sun Java SDK, as Microsoft no longer supports Java or PERL. Both packages are available free of charge to the University.

Discussion then turned to the Corel Office suite for both PC's and MAC's. It was concluded that enough time has gone by since it was used in classes that it is now safe to withdraw it from the build. However, existing licenses will be held onto so that faculty & staff that wish it, can have it on their office machines. We must purchase new licenses from Corel now. Our agreement with them has expired and licenses are now costly.

The next discussion concerned the content of the MAC build. M. Uncapher informed the committee that prior MAC technicians had done “special favors” for some faculty/staff. These included installing software in complete laboratories when only having licenses for 5 or 10 machines, and other similar “accommodations.” We are highly exposed concerning license violation, and cannot afford to let such practices to continue. The committee agreed that no such “accommodations” should be made in future builds.

3. A brief discussion ensued regarding upcoming changes in security procedures to better protect the laboratories from theft of equipment. It was concluded that this issue belongs with the Technology Council, as it not only affects computer laboratories, but also 20 newly renovated technology classrooms around the campus.
4. Teaching Laboratory availability and scheduling was next on the agenda. It was the intention of the chair to have the Registrar, Peter Kesheimer, attend and address the committee regarding his ability to meet all the needs for computer classrooms when preparing semester schedules. Mr. Kesheimer declined to attend but sent an email to the committee indicating that he had checked with Shirley regarding occasional useage, and concluded there was no problem at this time. All course requests, as well as most occasional requests are being met without problems. Of course, the 5:30 p.m. time slot is the most difficult to schedule.
5. The last order of business was request by M. Anderson concerning the status of the search for a MAC technician. M. Uncapher/D. Steward indicated that a likely candidate had been identified, and an offer should be made with the next week or two. They were pleased with the prospects for this candidate.