IRC Meeting Minutes

Minutes provided by Sue Harrison, Recording Secretary IRC Regular Voting Members: Ray von Dran, Library and Information Sciences (Chair); Cengiz Capan, College of Business; Carolyn Cunningham, Student Affairs; Paul Dworak, College of Music; Brian Forsman, UNTHSC Information Resources Council; Chuck Fuller, Fiscal Affairs; Larry Gleeson, School of Visual Arts; Don Grose, Libraries; David Hartman, School of Community Services and School of Merchandising and Hospitality Management; Monica Holmes, Graduate Student Council; Sam Magill, UNTHSC Director of Information Technology Services; Steve Miller, Administrative Affairs; Tom Newell, Telecommunications (Ex-officio); Don Palermo, Academic Administration; Jean Schaake, College of Arts and Sciences; Paul Schlieve, College of Education; John Todd, Faculty Senate; Virginia Wheeless, Associate Vice President and Director, University Planning and Institutional Research; Steve Williams, Undergraduate Student Association. IRC Ex-officio Nonvoting Members: Bill Buntain, Computing Center; Jim Curry, Microcomputer Maintenance Shop; Paul Gandel, Computing Center; Richard Harris, Computing Center; Coy Hoggard, Computing Center.

July 20, 1994

IRC Program Groups

Paul Gandel reported that the Instruction Program Group had met jointly with the Instruction Technology Committee. Those present were in favor of merging the two groups and naming it the Instruction Technology Program Group. The ITC is working on getting data from the Registrars office so that a survey of classrooms can be done this summer. Information gathered in the survey, such as what equipment is in rooms, lighting, etc., will be entered in the room reservation system to be used in scheduling classes.

Susan Pierce reported that the Standards and Cooperation Program Group had met, and had discussed procedure improvements for more timely notification of system outages, software upgrades, etc.

Coy Hoggard reported that the Administrative Program Group had met and discussed things that they can do with regard to the security policy, especially as it affects administrative computing.

E-mail Task Force

Paul Schlieve reported that the E-mail Task Force has been working on independent projects to demonstrate the viability of multiple mail solutions. The Task Force has not been successful in finding one mail package that would meet all requirements. The Library has been using CCMail, the College of Education has been using WordPerfect Office 4.0, Arts & Sciences has been developing a directory service for Pegasus Mail, and the Computing Center has been exploring IMAP Client Server Technology.

The Task Force has scheduled an Open House in Matthews Hall, Room 322 on Friday, July 22, 1994, from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., at which vendor representatives will be present to answer questions, and where real demonstrations of the systems actually working on campus can be observed communicating with each other.

Schlieve stated that after receiving input from those attending the Open House, the Task Force will make a final report and recommendation to the IRC at its next meeting. In the discussion that followed, Paul Schlieve reiterated that the Task Force has not been able to agree on one mail package, since there are irreconcilable differences between the various packages. It was mentioned that there had not been a survey of users to determine what their needs were regarding E-mail; therefore, it would not be possible for the IRC to make a determination as to the acceptability of the Task Force's multiple-package solution.

In response to a question from the floor, Paul Schlieve estimated that it would cost $4.71 per user plus $2000.00 for a computer in each area that would serve as an E-mail server, plus $75,000 for a hub system. The cost of upgrading to CCMail would be a little higher than that because the price per user is around $12.00.

A motion was passed asking the E-mail Task Force to survey users to find out what they consider to be the most important requirements for E-mail, keeping track of the responses according to whether the respondent is faculty, staff or administration. An amendment to the motion added that the IRC ask technical people, such as Bill Buntain, to speak at the next IRC meeting regarding the advantages and disadvantages of each of the E-mail systems, as well as tell the council what the short-term and long-term costs will be.

Other Business

Richard Harris reported that in response to the charge from the IRC to address the security issues that were presented to the IRC at its June meeting, the Strategic Planning Committee had met and discussed them. One item was the Login banner which the Security Coordinator had reviewed with the University Attorney. Following discussion, the Strategic Planning Committee was asked to look into the issue further at its August meeting.

It was reported that Phil Turner, a distance learning consultant who spoke at the Distance Learning Forum, endorsed the Campus Videoconferencing Task Force's recommendations for implementing a videoconferencing system linking UNT with UNT Health Science Center in Fort Worth. Von Dran explained that the system is already 75% paid for and even though the system will initially be set up for video conferencing, the Academic community can access it for distance learning purposes. A motion was passed to approve the Task Force's recommendations.


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