MINUTES

   IUN Faculty Organization Computer Committee

  Meeting: 4 Nov 2005

   LH 413  10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.

PRESENT: C. Scott (Chair), N. DeLeon, R. Kini, S. Linton and M. Uncapher, ex officio.

ABSENT:  W. Allegrezza, J. Knapp

1.        The meeting began at 10:00 a.m..

2.        The Committee reviewed the Fall 2005 laboratory build.  It was concluded that the build was fine and working properly with minimal problems.
M. Uncapher informed the Committee that he forgot to include the IUN web homepage in the Favorites for Internet Explorer, but would be sure that it was included in the Spring 2006 build.  He reported a continuing problem with Lexar flash drives.  The Lexar drives come with a Windows security program installed on them that often produces an error upon attempting to close the drive.  The error does not prevent the student from removing the drive intact.  A sign will be posted in each laboratory regarding this problem.  It is confined only to Lexar drives, not others.

3.        The Committee discussed the Spring 2006 laboratory build.  It has reached the 30 GB level.  No major additions are planned other than software requested by faculty.  The Breeze plug-in for web browsers will be added to the build to accommodate using Macromedia web development products and PowerPoint presentation development.

4.        The Committee discussed the upcoming upgrade of Windows to 64-bit processing.  Since we initially addressed the issue last Spring, it has become clearer that Microsoft will continue to support the 32-bit version of Windows XP (or Vista) for some time.  After lengthy discussion, it was concluded that the replacement of the Marram and Savannah STC’s, scheduled for Summer 2006 should proceed as planned with 32-bit machines, and that any upgrades to Windows will likely run satisfactorily on those machines.  The issue will be readdressed early next academic year regarding the type of equipment needed for the teaching laboratories.  At that time the fate of 64-bit processing will be much clearer.  

5.        Laboratory design:  Machines that were on top of the work tables have been moved to the floor.  Despite some reservations by IT personnel, the experiment seems to be working.  Few machines have been damaged, and the damage that has occurred has been minimal and mostly covered by warranty.  Placing the machines on the floor underneath the tables increases the work space on the tables and improves line-of-sight viewing of the projection screen. 

6.        Laboratory layout:  The Committee reiterated the need to explore redesigning the laboratory layouts as the laboratories begin to be replaced.  The life cycle of the machines is such that that process will not begin until the summer of 2007.  The Chair will make contact with Dr. Dorin, Chair of the appropriate committee to begin conversations about the layouts.

7.        The Registrar has expressed the need for additional multimedia classrooms equipped with permanent ceiling-mounted projectors and instructors’ stations (so called “technology classrooms”).  The committee discussed the issue and will express its concern to the administration through VC Vasquez to the Technology Council.  A regular schedule of conversion is necessary as part of the campus IT plan, along with a determination of need, based upon the requests for semester-long delivery of mobile instructor’s carts.  The equipment in these rooms needs to be added to the Life-cycle Funded computer equipment of the campus in order to provide for regular servicing and replacement of computers and other perishable parts. M. Uncapher reported that the machines are past their warranty period and beginning to fail.  He has removed the six computers from the Cybercafe area to use for parts, as they are the same models as those in the classrooms.  In addition, the bulbs in the projectors are very expensive, and replacement cost has not been built into the Instructional Media budget.

8.        The status of teaching laboratory availability was also discussed.  The Registrar has indicated that although by rescheduling classes he has been able to meet current requests for laboratories for teaching, but that it is becoming more difficult.  He also indicated that it is very difficult to keep space for the occasional laboratory user who needs a laboratory for demonstrations or testing.  Two proposals were discussed at length in the Spring 2005 semester: (1) converting one or two additional rooms on the 4th floor of Hawthorn for laboratory use, and (2) creating another STC space on the SE corner of either the 2nd or 3rd floor of the Library.  This would help meet the need for both more laboratory space and would allow the Savannah STC to be used for the occasional users, and group testing.  The Committee recommended that these proposals be transmitted to VC Vasquez for inclusion in the campus IT strategic plan.

9.        The future of ZIP drives and ZIP disks was discussed by the Committee.  M. Uncapher reported that Dell would no longer supply computers equipped with ZIP drives.  They supplied them to us last time only as a special favor.  They are not supported elsewhere in the IU system.  The heaviest users, CIS, have reached an agreement with their textbook suppliers to bundle flash drives with textbooks for a very reasonable cost. Thus, they support a gradual withdrawal of support for ZIP disk/drives.  It was determined that a series of announcements and reminders from the Committee to the faculty and staff are needed to ensure that faculty cease requiring ZIP disks for classes and begin the shift over to flash drives.  The first machines to be affected will be the STC’s in Marram and Savannah, as they are scheduled for replacement in the Summer of 2006.  Teaching laboratories are not scheduled for replacement until the Summer of 2007.  IT’s Help Desk will maintain ZIP support for copying files from ZIP disks to other media, as will the lab monitors in the STC’s.  The first announcement of the change should go out soon.  All new equipment purchased will have multiple flash drive sockets on the monitors as well as the cases. 

10.    The Committee discussed the state of the Library 230 laboratory.  Now that is a “campus” laboratory, IT is supplying the equipment for it, and keeping it up to date.  New printers have been added to both keep it up to campus laboratory status and to provide color printing capabilities for GIS uses.  The remaining issues involve projection technology and noise.  VC Steward told the Committee in the Spring that he would have Instructional Media upgrade the projection system for the laboratory, but never authorized IM to complete the project.  The Committee recommended that the Technology Council be informed, and include the upgrade in the technology strategic plan for the campus.  Users of the laboratory have complained to several Committee members regarding the noise level in the room from the AC unit while trying to teach.

11.    Wireless Project:  The project to provide wireless computer access for students to the IUN network has been successfully completed and is working very well.  Eight hubs have been placed around the campus in areas where students congregate in order to provide wide access.  Each floor of the library, Moraine student center, the open area of Savannah Hall, and the lobby of Marram Hall.  Security hardward/software has been included that prevents non-IUN individuals from attaching to the network.  The Committee noted that many faculty members have begun to ask questions regarding why faculty areas were not included in the experiment, and are asking for the same capabilities on other parts of the campus for faculty/staff use.  The Chair informed the Committee that the project was funded exclusively with Student Technology Fee funds at the request of the Student Technology Fee Committee in response to student requests.  The Committee recommended that the issue be brought to the Technology Council for review, and inclusion in the campus IT strategic plan for expansion of wireless access on the campus to other areas for faculty/staff use. 

12.    The meeting adjourned at 11:40 p.m.

Last Updated:  4 November 2005
http://www.bus.iun.indiana.edu/users/compcom/MIN11-4-05.html

Comments: Bus Webmaster
Copyright 1996-2005, The Trustees of Indiana University