UNIVERSITY TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE MINUTES
February 12, 1998

TELESUITES
The committee viewed a video produced by Telesuites, Inc. to introduce the virtual reality video conferencing program. After viewing this tape, the committee discussed whether the University should enter into an arrangement at this time. Dr. James Walker, invited guest, shared his views with the committee. From a technical viewpoint, he felt this system would be a positive investment and could possibly be an advantage to the University if it was to become a partner in this pioneering effort. Alice Renner attended a demonstration at the Telesuites offices and felt this was a very new and exciting program. However, after reviewing the costs, she questioned whether the University would want to invest this much money in equipment for a point-to-point educational program or invest these funds in other areas of technology. Paul Hernandez gave a breakdown of costs for the Telesuites program: Two learning suites (i.e. one on the main campus and one at Lake Campus) at a discounted price - $421,000; Network connections - $7,200/month/site; Maintenance on equipment - $900/month/site, bringing the annual cost to $1 94,400/year to maintain this system. Paul also was impressed with the technology, but suggested the funds might be of more benefit to the University if used in other areas, such as TURNPIKE Phase 3 and Web development. A motion was made by Paul Hernandez that the committee recommend the University not pursue an agreement with Telesuites, Inc. The motion was seconded by Vicki Montavon. Barbara Denison called for a vote of the members with the result being a unanimous recommendation not to pursue an agreement.

NCA GUIDELINES FOR DISTANCE LEARNING - Jay Thomas
Dr. Jay Thomas distributed handouts reviewing guidelines set forth by the NCA regarding requirements for accreditation. He cautioned that any distance education programs must meet specific criteria as outlined in the Handbook of Accreditation. Dr. Thomas also included a publication discussing the legal issues involved in distance education when offered outside the state. Dr. Thomas made several recommendations for consideration in a university document on distributed learning. NCA and the Ohio Board of Regents guidelines need to be followed. The University should catalog current activity. One possibility is to designate which sections of a course are distance learning.

YEAR 2000 PRESENTATION - Terry Anderson
Terry Anderson (Computing & Telecommunications Services) gave an update on the Year 2000 Departmental Assessment. The Y2K Committee developed a survey which was distributed to University faculty and staff. After receiving 55 responses, the results were analyzed by the consulting firm Computer Technology Solutions (CTS) and a workshop was developed to assist in identifying year 2000 problems within individual departments at the University. Two one-day workshops are being offered to address what action plans are needed and the time lines involved for those interested in attending. The classes are scheduled for February 19th and February 25th from 8:30 - 5:00 p.m. For more information and registration, please contact Kitty Friedman at ext. 4017 or email her at kitty.friedman@wright.edu .

OhioLink/OARNET WHITE PAPER - Victoria Montavon/Paul Hernandez
Victoria Montavon presented the final draft of the OhioLlNKlOARNET White Paper to inform the committee of recommendations for user workstations within the University. These are the guidelines currently used by several of the departments at Wright State such as CaTS and the Library and should be used by the departments/colleges considering acquisition of equipment in the near future in order to most effectively access all available OhioLlNK resources. Paul Hernandez addressed the White Paper requirements for networking. In order to successfully serve the campus network, the University needs to provide significant bandwidth to the desktops by upgrading the backbone capabilities. This was the goal of TURNPIKE Phase 3.

TURNPIKE Phase 3 Funding - Paul Hernandez
During the development of the phases of TURNPIKE, the decision was made to provide technology to residence students before upgrading the bandwidth of the campus. Two million dollars was allocated in the capital budget for the bandwidth upgrade of the network. The Board of Regents has now cut that line item out of the capital budget and, therefore, there are no funds available at this time to upgrade the campus backbone or the dial-in capabilities. The University is looking at alternatives to acquiring funds. Paul will keep the committee informed on any progress.

Impromptu Discussion (not on agenda)
Thomas Sav suggested the appointment of an individual to be responsible for overseeing technology advances on campus, i.e. an associate provost for technology or a chief information officer. Victoria Montavon informed the members that the Provost recently convened a group (Shari Lewis, Victoria Montavon, Paul Hernandez, Jay Thomas, Roger Gilpin, Oscar Garcia and Jim Brandeberry) to begin articulating a technology direction for the next five years. The committee discussed the need to have a person identified as a Chief Information Officer to pull together all the technology functions, planning, coordination and be a spokesperson on the Cabinet. The committee unanimously requested the Provost undertake an examination and consideration of forming a committee to study the need and viability of creating a Chief Information Office position.

RESIDENCE CONNECTIVITY FEE - Paul Hernandez
The University is going forth with a proposal of a $35.00 per quarter technology fee for residence students beginning with Fall Quarter, 1998. This proposal is being presented to the various committees on campus for approval. If this proposed fee is not implemented or another source of funds found, the network will be shut off at the end of June for residence students.

DISTRIBUTED LEARNING COMMITTEE STATUS - Barbara Denison
Barbara Denison met with Dr. Lillie Howard and Dr. Dan DeStephen to discuss forming a committee from names submitted by the UTC. Dr. Fleischauer will also meet with Dr. Howard in the near future to complete appointment of the committee..

IAIMS GRANTS - Noel Nussbaum
Noel Nussbaum distributed a fact sheet from the National Library of Medicine regarding Integrated Advanced Information Management Systems (IAIMS) grants. "IAIMS are institution-wide computer networks that link and relate library systems with individual and institutional databases and information files, within and external to the institution, for patient care, research, education and administration. The goal is to create an organizational mechanism within health institutions to manage more effectively the knowledge of medicine, and to provide for a system of comprehensive and convenient information access." Wright State is developing a proposal capitalizing on our community medicine orientation and the GDAHIN information network already in place. Victoria Montavon stressed the need for planning coordination with the Library and OhioLlNK. Dr. Nussbaum requested the committee formally endorse the following resolution: "Resolved the University Technology Committee endorses and supports the development and submission by the School of Medicine through the National Library of Medicine of an institution-wide IAIMS Planning Phase Proposal." The committee voted unanimously to endorse the resolution.

COLI EGE PLAN PRESENTATION - Barbara Denison
The co-chair reminded all the departments of the goal to submit and record all college plans to the UTC as soon as possible.

ANNOUNCEMENTS
Inforrnation on a 2-day seminar"lnstructional Technology and Adult Students Options for Delivering On-Line Courses" on April 30 in Washington, D.C. - Contact Bonnie Mathies in the College of Education and Human Resources.

Donna Hamilton announced that data on Web usage is being collected through a WSU on line visitor survey. The survey, posted on the WSU Web page, will be available for responses through the end of February. Results will be posted.

Internet 2 Workshop - Discussion of Wright State's possible membership to the Internet 2 consortium is still underway. An information workshop is scheduled for Wednesday, February 25 from 1 - 3:00 p.m. in room E154 of the Student Union. Anyone interested in attending should contact Sharon Allen @ ext. 4059 or by email at sallen@wright.edu.

Minutes of today's meeting will be posted on the WSU Web site as soon as possible.

The next scheduled UTC meeting will be Thursday, March 12, 1998 from 3 - 5 p.m. in E157 Student Union.

UPDATE
On February 16, 1998, Dr. Fleischauer appointed the members of the Distributed Learning Committee to draft a strategic plan for distributed learning at Wright State University. The members are as follows:

Frank Carmone - Business and Administration
Steven Berberich - School of Medicine
Joe Cavanaugh (alternate: Martin Tich) - Lake Campus
Charles Taylor - Liberal Arts
Kris Scorda - Nursing and Health Mitch
Wolff-Engineering and Computer Science
June Kisch Ovington - Educations and Human Services
Cheryl Meyer - Professional Psychology
Allen Burton (alternate: Robert Ritzi) - Science and Math
Pat Walker - University Libraries
Jeff Vernooy - Disability Services
Donna Hamilton - CWIS
Paul Hernandez - CaTS
Dan DeStephen - Center for Teaching and Learning - CHAIR
George Frey - CTL, Ex-Offico
Terry Klaus - (CTL), Ex-Officio
Tom Sav - UCAPC, Ex-Officio