Academic Computing Committee
Meeting Minutes
January 26, 2004
Members
Present:
University Senate Representatives: J. Gaynor, M. Heller,
Faculty Representatives: A. Adarkar (CHSS), A. Koeller (CSAM), A. Pemberton (SART), M. Davidson (CEHS) Administrative Representatives (Academic
Deans or Alternate): AJ Kelton [CHSS Administrative Rep.], Judith Lin Hunt
[Library Dean], R. Salomon [Proxy for
Dean Alan Oppenheim], K. Cohen [Graduate School Administrative Rep], Student Representatives: D. Stevens
(undergraduate), Librarian: S. Shapiro
Non-voting
Members Present:
E. Chapel, Associate Vice president for Information Technology
G. Klajman, Local 1904 Observer
Members Absent
T. Devlin, Academic Coordinator of Education Computer Network
- VACANT, Associate Director of Information
Faculty Representatives: R. Xing (SBUS)
Administrative Representatives (Academic Deans or Alternate):
L. Jenkins [CEHS Administrative Rep.],
R. Julian Robinson
Student Representatives: VACANT (undergraduate), VACANT (graduate)
Guests:
J. Minier
Presiding: M. Heller,
Chair Pro Tem
Reporting: M. Heller,
Chair Pro Tem
Distribution: ACC Web
Convened: 4:04 p.m.
[Library Special Collections Room]
Adjourned: 5:30 p.m.
1. Call to Order: The meeting was called to order at 4:04 p.m.
2. Minutes: The minutes of the December 8 meeting were approved unanimously and
will be posted to the ACC Web page.
3. Announcements:
Heller announced two NJEDge.Net events: The 5th Annual Faculty
Best Practices Showcase on March 26th at Raritan Valley Community College and
the rescheduled Rich Media Showcase/Empowering Faculty and Staff with Rich
Media on February 25th at Brookdale Community College. Heller also invited ACC membership to
participate in the upcoming NJEdge.Net Faculty Best Practices conference.
Kelton recommended the SMARTS/Spin grant opportunities service
provided by the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs. Interested parties can contact Tim
Kirby. Cohen added that the ORSP
website will be updated in the near future with additional information for
those interested in funding opportunities.
Heller, along with other ACC members and guests, noted that
Social Security numbers were indeed printed on Spring 2004 Class Lists. The committee's concerns were noted by the
Chair who will correspond with Registrar Denise DeBlasio regarding the matter
and advise the committee via the listserv prior to the next meeting.
4. Reports
Chair's Report: Chair Pro Tem Heller reported on two
membership updates. Joe Youn will serve
as proxy to Michael
Kruge, CSAM Administrative Rep.
R. Julian Robinson will serve as SART Administrative Rep.
OIT Report: Chapel is developing a project list for Senior VP
Schuckel. He will share this project
list for the upcoming 18
(Nota Bene: Prior to
Chapel's arrival to the meeting, the committee was engaged in a spirited
discussion of online grading, including its concerns that many members of the
University community and various
committees were not fully consulted prior to the decision to go forward with
web-based grading, including new timetables implemented for grading, some
procedural issues that were not fully
developed [incomplete grade contracts], and some minor technical
issues. That discussion aside, the
committee was unanimous in its support of the concept of web-based grading
(electronic submission of grades), and the bulk of the objections were only
related to the implementation process of web-based grading (consultation) and
the earlier submission deadlines.
The committee was informed by Minier that the earlier submission
deadline was important for several hundred students to be notified of their
academic probation or alert -- an important goal as related to retention. Chapel began his report by addressing the
concerns the committee had expressed as to technology decisions and their
implementation in the face of shared governance. He also fielded questions regarding the printing of social
security numbers on class lists.)
During the OIT report, a discussion on the role of the ACC
ensued, including which oversight areas are appropriate for an Academic
Computing Committee. Kelton referred
new committee members to minutes from earlier ACC meetings, and he will forward
the relevant information to the ACC listserv.
Heller suggested that the April
12th meeting could be used
in part for a further discussion on the role of the ACC.
Chapel noted that several of the 2003-2004 Action Items may be
beyond the definition of an Academic Computing Committee. Heller noted that often "administrative
computing" issues are discussed in the ACC since the Administrative
Computing & Telecommunications Committee has not met since 1998 or
1999. Hunt, former Chair of the ACTC noted
that often the ACTC was dealing with "academic computing" issues as
well, and that the lines of demarcation are not always clear.
Heller instructed Ad Hoc Committe Chairs to keep
"transformational approaches on teaching and learning" (VP Minier's term)
in focus as reports are completed.
· Ad Hoc Committee Interim Reports:
Heller suggested that half of the Ad Hoc Committees should
present their report at the Feb. 9th meeting, with the other half reporting at
the March meeting. The Ad Hoc Committees'
reporting date appears in brackets at the end of their reports.
a) Laptop Ownership Requirement: Salomon (Chair) had no
report. [2/9]
b) Mandatory MSU NetID Registration and Use: Youn and Heller.
(Co-Chairs) had no report. [3/8]
c) Physical Security of Facilities and Hardware: Koeller and Youn
(Co-Chairs) reported that a RFP for access control systems is
currently underway. [2/9]
d) Wireless Implementation at MSU: Pemberton (Chair) reported
that the committee would meet on Wed. 2/4.
[2/9]
e) Leveraging Middleware Application Services: Davidson (Chair)
reported that the committee was just getting going, but still needed more
members, and that inquiries he had made had received responses asking why the
ACC was looking at this area. Heller instructed the committee to keep in
focus how portals, and the middleware applications associated with these,
transform the University community and have marked impacts in areas such as
teaching and learning.
[3/8]
5. Ongoing
Business
a. EDUCAUSE Representation: Kelton reported additional
information related to MSU's affiliation with EDUCAUSE, including the need to
update our FTE count with EDUCAUSE.
While this will increase MSU's annual fees, the updated counts will
provide for additional copies of EDUCAUSE publications and will allow MSU
greater participation and leadership opportunities within EDUCAUSE, as well as
other services for MSU's membership level.
A permanent EDUCAUSE publications distribution subcommittee has been
established to determine which individuals at
MSU, in addition to the Library, will receive the publications
afforded by our EDUCAUSE membership
level. Kelton will
Chair the subcommittee.
6. New Business
a. Technology Initiatives (Services for Persons with Disabilities):
Shapiro (Chair) noted an
upcoming meeting scheduled for 1/27/04 and which would include Amy Dell of NJIT
as a guest. The committee is looking to
expand its membership with relevant parties from the Physical Plant and
Architectural & Engineering Services.
[3/8 or 4/12]
b. Koeller and Gaynor
noted some "official" enrollment problems that have been experienced
with Blackboard and the feeds it receives from SIS+. Specifically, Blackboard's course listing and SIS+'s course
listing do not always agree. This poses
a problem as faculty are only supposed to allow students officially enrolled in
the class to attend class. When a
discrepancy exists, only SIS+ should be considered official. Kelton noted that, unfortunately, class
lists printed by faculty from SIS+ are often not picked up at departmental or
group printers.
7. Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at 5:30 PM.