Academic Computing Committee
Meeting Minutes
December 8, 2003
Members Present
A. Adarkar, E. Chapel, T. Devlin, J. Gaynor, M. Heller, L.
Jenkins [CEHS Administrative Rep.], A.J. Kelton [CHSS Administrative Rep.], J.
Youn [proxy for M. Kruge, CSAM Administrative Rep.], A. Koeller, M. Mallery
[Library Administrative Rep], A.
Pemberton, R. Salomon [Proxy for Dean Alan Oppenheim], S. Shapiro, R.
Sharps [SART Administrative Rep.], D. Stevens, R. Xing
Members Absent
M. Davidson, K. Cohen [Graduate School Administrative Rep], G.
Klajman, Associate Director of Information Technology
[VACANT]
Guests
Present
E. Mayfield, J. Minier
Presiding: M. Heller, Chair Pro Tem;
Reporting: M. Mallery, Secretary
Distribution: ACC Web
Convened: 4:06 p.m. [Library Special Collections Room]
Adjourned: 6:08 p.m.
1. Call to Order: The meeting was called to order at 4:06 p.m.
2. Minutes: The minutes of the November 10 meeting were approved
unanimously and will be posted to the ACC Web page.
3. Announcements:
· January 12 Faculty Forum: "Is Online Assessment Possible?
Alternative Assessment Strategies for Online Education" by Peter Campbell,
OIT, 11AM, Videoconferenced Session in College Hall, Room 123.
4. Reports
· Chair's Report: Chair Pro Tem Heller reported
that the ACC membership roster is almost complete and posted on
the ACC Web site.
· OIT Report: Chapel distributed the 2003 OIT Organizational
Chart and noted that key changes include the addition of the Institutional
Research Division and under Systems and Security, a Desktop Development
position.
Heller asked if there would be a search for Director of Academic
Technology. Chapel said yes, but in the
meantime to contact Patty Kahn for Instructional Technology questions and faculty
training and John O'Brien for video conferencing, distance learning and NJEdge
applications.
Sharps asked if the Course/Curriculum Development staff will work
with Orientation staff to help students and noted that the Blackboard Brown Bag
today at 1PM showed that student need more information on how to use Blackboard
effectively. Chapel noted that the Blackboard Doctor Is In sessions were the
best attended, but IT workshops in general are not well-attended.
Xing noted that Minto Gill's presentation on packet-handling was
well-received by the students as well. Kelton said that ACC could recommend
that IT schedule student training on Wednesday afternoons, when there are no
classes. Heller said that IT might
reach more students with online training, such as the Excel classes using
Camtasia Studio on the Web at: http://oit.montclair.edu/documentation/IT_Training/excel_camtasia.htm
Chapel called for feedback from faculty on their use of Blackboard
in the classroom. Kelton recommended
posting a query to the MSU Blackboard listserv. Sharps noted problems that students were having because they were
unfamiliar with Blackboard. Koeller
noted that some students sign up two or more times on Blackboard and end up
with alternate IDs to track for classes. Chapel said to speak to Registrar, who
can edit the Blackboard class list.
Heller asked for more discussion on the Blackboard admin listserv
regarding what are the issues for students before ACC recommends training
materials for Bb use. He suggested that there be a Committee to discuss this,
including representatives from Academic Affairs, the undergraduate student body
and graduate student body.
Adarkar suggested including excerpts from Prof. Vanessa Domine's
presentation on "Moving Beyond Digital 'Chalk and Talk': Using Blackboard
to Support Authentic Pedgogy" from today's Faculty Forum.
According to the latest student survey, 85% use modems, Adarkar
noted; will Blackboard work well with a model connection? Chapel answered that
Blackboard is very slow over modem connections. Kelton suggested that IT find out how other universities with Bb
have worked with modem users.
Kelton asked whether OIT has considered bringing Bb back onto a
server on campus instead of continuing the ASP service. Chapel said that 24/7 support for Bb servers
is not possible on campus at this time.
He thinks ASP is a good buy for the money. When MSU has 24/7 tech. support, we can talk about serving Bb
from campus servers.
· Ad Hoc Committee Interim Reports:
a) Laptop Ownership Requirement: Salomon (Chair) reported that the
Committee is looking at laptop initiatives at the following benchmark
universities cited in the MSU Strategic Plan:
* Ball State University, Indiana
* Bowling Green State University, Ohio
* East Carolina University, North Carolina
* George Mason University, Virginia
* Miami University - Oxford, Ohio.
b) Mandatory MSU NetID Registration and Use: Youn and Heller
(Co-Chairs) reported that George Mason U. says that all their university
communications must be performed with GMU email account. Committee is looking at benchmark
universities. netID is best if it is
the same as email, so that there is only one userid/password combination for
students to remember.
c) Physical Security of Facilities and Hardware: Koeller and Youn
(Co-Chairs) are collecting data and asking for anecdotal accounts of breaches
of security on campus. They will check
to see if any School has done a survey of security.
d) Wireless Implementation at MSU: Pemberton (Chair) is
corresponding with Michael Reekie in IT.
Chapel said he would forward articles in journal on wireless
implementation at American University at Rome.
Kelton said there are also good articles in the EDUCAUSE journal. Xing
suggested that wireless security issues should also be covered. Kelton asked
that the Committee focus on pedagogical applications of wireless.
e) Leveraging Middleware Application Services: Davidson (Chair)
not present to report.
Shapiro has posted Action Items on Ad Hoc Committees on the ACC
Web site. Heller asked that Committee
Chairs send Shapiro information on progress of their Committee. Final Ad Hoc Committee reports are due at
the ACC February 9th meeting.
5. Ongoing Business
a. EDUCAUSE Representation: Kelton reported that he found
information on the EDUCAUSE Web site showing that MSU has 9 participating
representatives and 16 subscribing representatives, based on the dues that MSU
is paying. Chapel noted that he answers
EDUCAUSE surveys for MSU, and the subscription fee also covers
Gartner Group Consulting services, which MSU uses.
b. Social Security Numbers on Class Lists: Adarkar asked for an
update on the question about Social Security numbers in class lists. Chapel said that SIS needs a 9-digit unique
identifier, and MSU is using SS#.
However, Chapel noted that printed class lists do not have Social
Security numbers on them any more.
6. New Business
a. Technology Initiatives (Services for Persons with
Disabilities): Heller shared a memo addressed to the Faculty Senate regarding
services for persons with disabilities on campus and asked that the ACC discuss
these issues.
Chapel said that IT has received a number of communications on the
issue of ADA compliance, and noted that some assistive technology, such as
Zoomtext for sight-impaired students, has been installed in the computer
labs. He has consulted with Linda Smith,
the MSU Coordinator for services to students with disabilities.
Kelton noted that Mayfield has worked hard to make sure the CHSS
Web site is Bobby-compliant for ADA accessibility. Shapiro noted that the Library has posted their Services for
Patrons with Disabilities on the Web at:
http://library.montclair.edu//circulation/DisabilitiesPage.html
One workstation in the Reference area is equipped with JAWS (Job
Access With Speech) for Windows screen reader software and a track-ball (large
size mouse). In addition, a closed circuit television(CCTV) for magnifying the
text of printed materials is located in the Faculty & Graduate Student
Reading Room on the Lower Level.
Heller called for a Committee to investigate these issues and
return to the ACC with a 2-3 page white paper on the subject. Shapiro volunteered to chair the Committee.
Linda Smith and Elaine Fine will be asked to join. Mallery, Adarkar and Mayfield volunteered to be on the Committee.
b. NJEdge.net Overview and Update: Devlin gave an overview of the
NJEdge consortium and invited ACC members to join a Task Force or Advisory
Group. Currently, MSU representation is
strong: John Diglio is Chair of the Video Resources Group and John O'Brien is a
member,
Minto Gill is on the Data
Resources Group, Ed Chapel is on the Networking Board, Mary Mallery is on the
Educational Activities Task Force, and Tom Devlin is a member of the Distance
Learning Activities Advisory Board (DLAAB).
More information is on the Web at
http://www.njedge.net . Heller said that he will invite John O'Brien
to speak on videoconferencing using NJEdge.net at a future ACC meeting.
7. Adjournment: Motion to adjourn was made by Stevens; seconded by
Sharps. The meeting was adjourned at 6:08PM.