Academic Computing Committee
Meeting Minutes DRAFT
May 10, 2004

Members Present:

University Senate Representatives: M. Heller, R. Wolfson

Faculty Representatives: A. Adarkar [CHSS Faculty Rep.], A. Koeller
(CSAM), M. Davidson [CEHS Faculty Rep.], A.  Pemberton [SART Faculty Rep.], S. Shapiro [Library Faculty Rep.], J. Youn [proxy for M. Kruge, CSAM Administrative Rep.], R. Xing [SBUS Faculty Rep.],

Administrative Representatives (Academic Deans or Alternate):
A.J.Kelton [CHSS Administrative Rep.], M. Mallery [Library Dean
Administrative Rep.],  R. Salomon [Proxy for Dean Alan Oppenheim], K. Tighe [CEHS Administrative Rep.]

Non-voting Members Present: E. Chapel, Associate Vice president for Information Technology

Absent:

J. Gaynor [University Senate Rep.], K. Cohen [Graduate School Administrative Rep], R. Julian Robinson [SART Administrative Rep.], D. Stevens [Undergraduate Student Rep.], T. Devlin, Academic Coordinator of Education Computing Network; G. Klajman, Local 1904 Observer, VACANT, Associate Director of Information Technology, Student Representatives: VACANT (undergraduate), VACANT (graduate)

Guest:  J. Minier, C. Meneghin

Presiding: M. Heller, Chair Pro Tem;
Reporting: M. Mallery, Secretary
Distribution: ACC Web
Convened: 4:11 p.m. [Library Special Collections Room]
Adjourned: 6:00 p.m.

1. Call to Order: The meeting was called to order at 4:11 p.m.

2. Minutes: The minutes for March 8 were approved unanimously, and the minutes for April 12 were approved with amendments. 

3. Announcements:
     • Second Annual NJEDge.Net Conference will be held October 11 -
13, 2004 at Merrill Lynch Conference Center, Plainsboro, NJ
     • EdTeXpo the 10th Annual MSU Technology Show and 3rd Annual
Technology Conference will be held on Tuesday, October 5, 2004.

4. Reports
    • Chair's Report: Chair Pro Tem Heller had nothing to report but
asked that all Subcommittees send their reports to Shapiro for posting
on the ACC Website under "Action Issues" at:
http://frontpage.montclair.edu/acc/action_issues.htm .

    • OIT Report: Chapel reported that the new XP software build should have been received by all Tech Coordinators, and testing of the build must be done in the next few weeks.  Kelton asked if the timeframe was set, and Chapel said not yet.  Heller asked if builds are available for all hardware on campus other than IBM laptops, and Chapel noted that this is the build for all computer labs on campus.  The software build for other hardware on campus will be delivered later.

Adarkar asked if the university will be supporting XP now.  Chapel said
that it will be supported first in the computer labs, and he asked that
the Tech. Coordinators make sure this build is acceptable and identify
which machines to test next.  IT plans the next largest build will be
for the Dells on campus.  

Minier noted that the ACC Dean reps. should take the software build
information to their technical support teams.  Chapel said that the
standard hardware configurations are listed on the OIT Web site at: 
http://oit.montclair.edu/index.html  Chapel also noted that IT is
continuing with their hardware replacement program.  Tighe asked where comments on hardware should be sent, and Chapel recommended comments be sent to Stacia Zelick in IT.

• Ad Hoc Committee Reports:

   a) Mandatory MSU NetID Registration and Use: Heller (Co-Chair) will
present the Committee's report at the September 13th ACC meeting.

   b) Wireless Implementation at MSU: Pemberton (Chair) was not
present.  Report will be presented at September 13th meeting.

   c) Student Technology Survey: Kelton (Chair) reported he was working with the MSU Office of Institutional Research to develop the survey instrument and methodology.  Youn asked for recommendations and review by ACC members.

5. Ongoing Business

   a. EDUCAUSE Representation Subcommittee: Kelton (Chair) presented the list of EDUCAUSE representatives, and it was approved by acclamation.  Kelton will send the list to Jackie Jones and Chapel to
forward to EDUCAUSE.

   b. Technology Initiatives for Persons with Disabilities Ad Hoc
Committee: Shapiro (Chair) distributed revised final white paper and
gave a brief overview.  He noted that while there is some adaptive
technology in place at MSU to accommodate persons with disabilities,
there is a need for policies to be established and more accommodations to be put in place. 

The white paper reviews the current state of adaptive technology on campus, disability law and relevant case law; adaptive technology best practices models and Web accessibility standards and models are cited.  The white paper closes with an] section on Evaluation and Assessment and Recommendations for Improving Access for
Individuals with Disabilities. 

Kelton recommended that a copy of the Faculty Senate Committee motion that first requested a review of technology accommodations be included as an Appendix to the white paper.

Heller thanked Shapiro and the Committee for their excellent work and
asked that the white paper be posted on the ACC Web site.  There was
discussion about what would be the next steps.  Wolfson recommended that the ACC forward the paper to the MSU Office for Students with Disabilities, the Provost.

Youn made the motion that the ACC urge the University Senate to look
into ways to implement the recommendations in the white paper. Heller tabled the motion after review of ACC history and purpose.  The ACC can send the white paper to the University Senate for review, but the Senate does not implement the recommendations.  Minier noted that Linda Smith and the Office for Students with Disabilities is the source for requests for accommodations.

There was discussion about how to fund the white paper
recommendations.  Chapel said that OIT would appreciate any help they could get to accommodate students sufficiently. Kelton warned that the ACC should not be making an unfunded mandate.  

Adarkar moved that the ACC recommend the white paper to the University Senate for review and ask that the University Senate act on these recommendations by the second meeting of the academic year.  Youn seconded the motion.  Heller tabled the motion because the
reorganization in the Faculty Senate would make this timeline difficult
to observe.

Recommendations on Web standards in the white paper were also
discussed.  Wolfson proposed that the ACC sponsor a workshop on Web compliance for Section 508.  Kelton noted that MSU has no mandate previous to these guidelines for Web standards.  Minier said that the biggest issue here is providing access to students with disabilities.  There are laws that require accommodation.  The ACC needs only to recommend best practices and guidelines, and MSU officers will work to provide suitable accommodation.

Heller noted that the ACC can only recommend best practices and ask for action by the appropriate university offices.  Heller will meet with
Shapiro, Mallery and Adarkar to compose a cover letter for the white
paper to address the University Senate for consideration of the
recommendations in the Fall.

   c. Discussion on "What is an Academic Computing Committee?" – Heller noted that the new Faculty Senate Executive Board has been elected, and they are looking into Committees, as discussed at the April meeting.  Kelton moved that the Academic Computing Committee recommends that the Senate Executive Council change the name of this committee to the Academic Technology Committee. Koeller seconded. 

There was discussion as to whether a change in the name also meant a change in the charge of the Committee. 

Adarkar made a friendly amendment to change the name to the University Technology Committee because the ACC sometimes discusses administrative computing as well as academic computing.  Youn said that the name is not important, what is important is: what committee does the Faculty Senate turn to when discussing technology?  Wolfson said that the ACC can change its name and recommend a change in the charge.

Heller noted that the Senate Administrative Committee has not met yet, and the ACC should wait for their first meeting.  He tabled the motion.

6. New Business:
a. MSU Web Guidelines: Meneghin noted that Executive and
Management Council approved MSU Web standards and practices that were proposed by the MSU Web Task Force.  She asked that the ACC provide input to her on these Guidelines within the next few weeks.  Heller will send the URL for the MSU Web standards and guidelines to the ACC listserv for review.

b. Meeting Dates and Times:  Heller noted that some ACC members
have trouble getting to meetings at the 4PM-6PM time.  Kelton asked if
the meetings could be scheduled to fit within a workday.  Youn noted
that the MSU Childcare Center closes at 6:15PM, and ACC meeting
adjournments at 6PM or later pose a problem for members who pick up children. 

A change in meeting time to 3PM-5PM was adopted by acclamation.  The meeting day will be determined by the Faculty Senate; currently it is the second Monday of every month.

c. Election of Officers: Heller asked for nominations for the
position of Chair.  Kelton nominated Adarkar, who declined.  Adarkar
nominated Shapiro, who declined, but said he would like to remain
as ACC Webmaster.  Mallery agreed to remain as Secretary. Heller moved to table elections until September.  Wolfson recommended that there be a vote to change constituency of the committee to have a broader base.  He also noted that there are members who do not attend regularly, and that this should be discussed at the next meeting. 

7. Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at 6:07PM.