Technology Advisory Council (TAC) Notes
December 6, 2007 Meeting Notes
Members Present: Warren Ashley, Ron Bergmann, Carole Casten, Lisa Chavez, Kim Clark, Mohammad Eyadat, Jack Han, Nathlyn Hirohama, Kazimierz Kowalski, Sandra Parham, Marion Smith
Guest: Shon Lee, University Web Design and Communications Coordinator, University Communications & Public Affairs
The meeting was chaired by Dr. Ron Bergmann, CSUDH CIO.
EDUCAUSE ECAR Study - Ron Bergmann
The EDUCAUSE ECAR Study of Undergraduate Students and Information Technology, 2007, has just been released. The study indicates that students prefer a moderate amount of technology in classes, but they also want face-to-face meetings. Many students own laptops, but they are also moving to Blackberry-type devices.
Whereas an older generation expected electrical outlets to be available in classes, current students expect IT to be available.
Warren says President Garcia is concerned about a student perception that academic quality is poor on this campus. Some of the solution may rest with Blackboard courses, which have a professional look. We may need to promote faculty use of Blackboard. Sandra added that Blackboard courses can link to library databases.
Kaz suggests asking if the student believes the course includes appropriate techology on the perceived teaching effectiveness (PTE) form. Ron will be meeting with Brian Hu, Assistant Vice President of Institutional Research, Assessment, and Planning, to discuss developing a student survey for the spring. Ron will bring the survey to TAC before it is released to students. Warren questions the selection of respondents and how a follow up to students who do not respond will be handled. Mohammad noted that any survey has to be accessible by all.
Student Computers - Ron Bergmann
The hours of the Welch Hall computer lab have been expanded on Fridays (from a 4 p.m. close to an 8 p.m. close). Saturday hours will be expanded next semester. This is primarily to benefit students who do not have computers at home. Ron bought an additional printer for the lab in response to a complaint.
The library has 15 student computers and is open seven days a week.
LUSU has 60 laptops having wireless cards available to students.
Student E-Mail System - Ron Bergmann
Ron is hearing complaints about the student e-mail system from faculty, students, and administrators. The primary student complaint is the 50 MG mailbox. The next most common complaint is that a student already has a personal e-mail account and wants to read CSUDH e-mail there. Here are two solutions Ron is considering:
- Increasing mailbox size to 1 GB;
- Providing a POP capability.
Is there a limit on the size of mail that a student can receive? A professor has complained that an attachment s/he mailed was blocked from student accounts. Ron will investigate this and e-mail the result to this council.
Blackboard - Warren Ashley
Because the CSUDH Blackboard fee hinges partially on the volume of active data [and we tend to never throw anything away], we will begin to archive material from 2005 and before on an off-site server. Material can be retrieved from the archive with a course reference number (CRN).
Web Template - Shon Lee
The new CSUDH Web template will be fully accessible to disabled students. One way this will be accomplished will be by separating content from design. Primary navigation for a page will be at the top of the page. The highest level CSUDH Web pages will be the first to go live with the new template. Note: The Technology Advisory Council (TAC) Web site is currently beta-testing the template.
Definition of an "official Web page": A page that is critical to the University's mission. Official pages must include the template's header and footer.
Two hundred forty-three individuals have FTP access to the University Web site.
Enhanced Technology Classroom (ETC) Security - Ron Bergmann
A projector was stolen from one of the 18 new ETCs. The vendor has now supplied us with a new mount and security for the that unit, and Ron has purchased new mounts for all of the new ETCs. ETCs are being left open, and electronics are being stolen for home theaters. Ron will send a reminder to faculty to close and lock the door when leaving an ETC. An ETC can be unlocked by University Police for weekend classes.
Mohammad listed several problems in ETCs, including software installed on classroom computers not matching the software installed on a podium. Some of the machines are very old and slow. In fact, Ron was surprised to learn ETC computers were not included in the refresh process. We have just rolled out 84 Dell and 20 Macintosh computers. We have 81 ETCs. The old Sharp projector used a $500 bulb. Epson projectors, using $250 bulbs, are part of the ETC upgrade.
Computer Labs - Mohammad Eyadat
Mohammad says only a few machines in the main computer lab (WH F160) have the latest versions of software. He participated in a committee/discussion about lab software last spring, but software was not upgraded.
Carole requests a DVD burner for the lab. Mohammad requested a DVD burner during the discussion last spring.
Academic Technology Plan 2007-2010- Sandra Parham
Our academic technology plan is based upon our academic master plan. Provost Allen Mori had asked Sandra to write the AT plan, and Mori submitted it to a technology council.
The academic plan will not be part of next week's budget meeting.
The meeting was adjourned. TAC will not meet in January. The next meeting will take place Thursday, February 7, 2008.