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Virginia Tech
Governance Minutes ArchiveMarch 31, 1993
Minutes of the University Communications Resources Committee Meeting held: Wednesday, March 31, 1993 - 3:00-5:00 pm Location: Conference Room (Graduate School), 206 Sandy Hall Present: Fred Bailey, David Bevan, Tom Caceci, George Crofts (Chairman), Jamie Evans, Ed Fox, Carolyn Furrow, F. Gail Gray, Marcia Harrington, Mark Hunter, Kathy Johnston, Bernard LaBerge, Buddy Litchfield, Tom McAnge, Lenwood McCoy, Arthur Snoke, Bob Sumichrast Guests: Phil (Theta) Bowden, Tom Head, Richard Stock 1. The February minutes were approved. 2. Ed Fox asked about activities to bring Ethernet connections to dormitories. Phil (Theta) Bowden responded that 66 rooms in East Payne will be equipped with Ethernet connections this summer. This experiment will guide future Ethernet wiring in dormitories. The plans are annually to convert 25% of the dormitory rooms, one connection per room, to Ethernet capabilities starting in the summer of 1994. Clearly, all difficulties cannot be anticipated, but CNS is prepared to address issues as they surface with the 66-room pilot program. Housing will be involved in future years publicizing the availability of rooms with Ethernet connections. Departments whose students could benefit from Ethernet will also want to publicize the availability. Since rooms have already been requested for the fall, it may be impos- sible to reserve the 66 rooms in the pilot program for students who can best take advantage of the option. Mark Hunter will discuss with housing what possibilities exist for this fall. 3. Theta gave an update on the Blacksburg Electronic Village project. C&P Telephone is very much involved. The C&P hub will be connected with the network at Tech. Two apartment complexes will be tied to the C&P hub this fall. Students in the apartments would pay the inbound-modem fees and obtain the capabilities of the students in dormitories. Of course, the apartment connections will be available to any renter, student or otherwise. The public schools (K-12) may connect with the C&P system if the school system can find resources. A good discussion followed on opportunities (and constraints) for Tech personnel to help K-12 schools with computing needs. Theta will prepare an article for Spectrum stating some opportunities for Tech students, staff, and faculty to become involved with the Electronic Village initiative. There should be a variety of opportunities ranging from experience designing and maintaining networks to conduct- ing research on behavioral changes resulting from the new capa- bilities. 4. a) Buddy Litchfield reported that the university computer committee declined an invitation to form a joint subcommittee to consider access and network questions. The computer committee feels that the current pricing structure permits departments to address access questions. Arthur Snoke suggested that UCRC and the computer committee should share their minutes. This can help each committee remain better informed of issues that may become mutually important. Ed observed that the subcommittee has reached no decision on access, the group is still gathering information. No proposal is before the subcommittee. Buddy said the subcommittee would want to continue meeting next year. It would want to assist with the analysis of the pilot projects planned for this summer on using computers as aids to instruction. Arthur suggested that the subcommittee would also want to remain active as Phase II unfolds. The information about networks, access, and distributed computing that Buddy is receiving from other universities will be grist for the subcommittee. b) Bernard LaBerge will have a recommendation from the mail subcommittee at the next meeting. 5. Tom Head told the committee that recently several people have complained about items being sent through the campus mail. The mail service does not screen material that is submitted by recog- nized student groups or campus units. Even begging the question of who would decide what items are acceptable, the mail service does not have enough staff to screen material submitted for mailing. Tom is reexamining management of the service, including the possibility of general regulations. Written regulations may be needed. Regulations could counter any perception that rules were decided "on the go." Lenwood McCoy mentioned the issue of off-campus offices not receiving mailings sent through campus mail. This frustrates offices wanting to send information announcements and those who should receive the information. The chair asked that discussions on mail regulations first occur with the mail subcommittee before coming to the full committee. The members of the subcommittee can help focus any recommendation that might come to the full committee because of their work this year. 6. Tom reported that the pilot projects to use computers in instruction (one each in classics, mathematics, and writing) are moving forward. Three, 25-station laboratories (one each in Wil- liams, McBryde, and Newman Library) and two, 40-person classrooms (in McBryde) will be equipped to facilitate teaching the project courses this fall. Good discussions followed on equipping computer laboratories. In response to a question, Tom said that planning is in the early stages for training administrative personnel for the distributed computing environment. NEXT MEETING: April 28, 1993 - 3:00-5:00 pm Board Room, Newman Library, 6th Floor
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Last modified on: Tuesday, 25-Sep-2001 13:57:23 EDT