Computer Committee

Meeting Minutes

Meeting: 9 March 2001
LCC - 115 1:30-3:30 p.m.

Present: B. Scott (Chair), N. De Leon, W. Dorin, J. Gerzema, S. Higgins, J. Knapp, VC D. Steward (ex officio), Carol Wood (ex officio), Mark Uncapher (ex officio), N. Shaw (ex officio), J. Tolhuizen (ex officio), L. Seibert (ex officio).

Absent:  R. Kini, I. Hozo.

1. 2001-2002 PC Operating System:  After minimal discussion, it was concluded that the appropriate operating system for laboratory PC's beginning Fall, 2001 should be Windows 2000 Professional.  This was deemed desirable for several reasons.  First, we need to provide and teach the latest software (including operating systems) in our courses.  Second, it will be desirable for enhancing our security procedures for laboratory users, as it will allow individualized logins on laboratory machines limited to currently registered students with active IS accounts and passwords.  It would no longer be necessary to police student ID's, etc. for laboratory use.  This will then release laboratory monitors to become “user consultants” rather than “police,” and to provide a higher level of service to the students.
2. 2001-2002 PC Office Suite:  Again, after minimal discussion, it was concluded that for Fall 2001 it would be appropriate to upgrade the office suite to MS Office XP.  Dorin indicated that the final beta was due out soon, and a final release was expected by June, making it available by Fall, both as software and in textbooks.  Again the desire to be up-to-date for our students was stressed.
3. 2001-2002 MAC Operating System:  N. Shaw informed the committee that the latest operating system available for MacIntosh machines is OS 9.1, but that many of our older machines could not use this OS.
4. De Leon expressed concerns over the datedness of the campus web site.  He indicated serious concern about its effectiveness in presenting an up-to-date vision of the campus to the outside world.  VC Steward indicated that he would soon be convening an advisory group to assist the campus webmaster in redesigning the campus site and correcting a number of problem areas, such as the front-end design, out-of-date employee lists and contact information.
5. VC Steward informed the committee that the campus had been notified by the Business Software Alliance that it had targeted the campus for a software compliance inspection at a future unspecified date after March 15.  He also indicated that he had consulted with the University attorney, and the recommended response to the notification was to “clean” and “lock down” all computers on the campus.  This procedure would guarantee campus compliance with software licensing.  When the matter had been discussed by the campus senior staff, they concurred with the attorney's recommendation over Dr. Steward's objections.

VC Steward asked the committee to draft a resolution to the IUN Faculty Organization for consideration that would define a less onerous procedure for assuring software licensing compliance.  After discussion of the issue, the committee concluded that such a resolution was the best way to proceed.  The chair was asked to outline a recommended procedure, circulate it be email to all committee members until agreement was reached, and that final version would be forwarded to IUN Faculty Organization President Tolhuizen for inclusion on the March Faculty Organization meeting agenda.

6. The meeting adjourned at approximately 3:00 p.m.