IRC News Minutes provided by Sue Ellen Richey, Recording Secretary

IRC Regular Voting Members: Judith Adkison, College of Education; Ginny Anderson, Fiscal Affairs; Donna Asher, Administrative Affairs; Sue Byron, Faculty Senate; Carolyn Cunningham, Student Affairs; Jim Curry, Academic Administration; David Griffiths, Student Association, Don Grose, Libraries; Jenny Jopling, Instruction Program Group; Joneel Harris, Administrative Program Group; Elizabeth Hinkle-Turner, Standards and Cooperation Program Group; Allen Livingston,Graduate Student Council; Dan Mauldin, University Planning Council; Ramu Muthiah, School of Community Services, GALMAC; Jon Nelson, College of Music; Robert Nimocks, Director, Information Technology,UNTHSC; Steve Oeffner, UNT Health Science Center; Russ Pensyl , School of Visual Arts; Patrick Pluscht, Distributed Learning Team; Mark Rorvig, Research Program Group; Paul Schlieve, Communications Program Group; Kathleen Swigger, College of Arts and Sciences; Philip Turner, Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs for Distance Education and Dean of the School of Library and Information Resources (Chair, IRC);; Virginia Wheeless, Chancellor; John Windsor, College of Business. IRC Ex-officio Nonvoting Members: Leslie Bowden, Telecommunications; Jim Curry, Microcomputer Maintenance Shop; Michael Forster, UNT Health Science Center; Richard Harris, Computing Center; Coy Hoggard, Computing Center; Maurice Leatherbury, Computing Center; Sue Ellen Richey, Computing Center (Recording Secretary). [As of 9/99]

April 18, 2000

VOTING MEMBERS PRESENT: PHILLIP TURNER, CHAIR, SUE BYRON, RAMU MUTHIAH, JOHN WINDSOR, DON GROSE, MARK RORVIG, JONEEL HARRIS, ROBERT NIMOCKS, DONNA ASHER, JON NELSON, CAROLYN CUNNINGHAM, JIM CURRY, PAUL HONS (for JUDITH ADKISON)

NON-VOTING MEMBERS PRESENT: MAURICE LEATHERBURY, COY HOGGARD, SUE ELLEN RICHEY (Recording Secretary)

MEMBERS ABSENT: BILL BUNTAIN, GINNY ANDERSON, ALLEN LIVINGSTON, PAUL SCHLIEVE, STEVE OEFFNER, VIRGINIA WHEELESS, MIKE FORSTER, JUDITH ADKISON, RUSS PENSYL, KATHLEEN SWIGGER, PATRICK PLUSCHT, ELIZABETH HINKLE-TURNER, JENNY JOPLING, LESLIE BOWDEN, RICHARD HARRIS

GUESTS: JENNIFER JOHNSON

The minutes of the March 18, 2000 meeting were not approved, due to a lack of a quorum present. They will be approved at the May meeting.

Distributed Computing Support Management Team

Maurice Leatherbury reported for the Distributed Computing Support Management Team that the committee has continued to work on the campus-wide printer maintenance contract. Maurice met with Purchasing and they have agreed to draft a request for proposal, which will then be reviewed by a sub-committee of the DCSMT. Maurice explained that he sees this eventual contract as being administered similarly to the campus-wide typewriter maintenance contract; and similarly, departments can buy into it only if they want to. The DCSMT is also evaluating personal digital assistant devices and will provide feedback to the IRC after compiling the results of their findings.

Administrative Program Group

Carolyn Cunningham reported for the Administrative Program Group that Datatel will make a presentation on their mainframe student system to the Program Group, SIMS, AIS group, and any interested IRC members on Thursday of this week. SCT is scheduled for some time in May for their presentation.

Research Program Group

Mark Rorvig reported for the Research Program Group that he has found another NSF program and to prepare for writing a grant proposal is in the process of requesting proposals that have won grants.

Standards & Cooperation Program Group

Maurice Leatherbury reported for the Standards & Cooperation Program Group. He distributed copies of the group’s Report on University Computer Inventory and Viability. This report is a result of a compilation of inventory data of UNT departments to determine the numbers and types of computers in use. The report explains the determination of a computer’s viability, which is defined as the effectiveness of a machine to fully utilize and run the operating systems and software that reflect the current industry standards for basic computing needs and processes. The purpose of the report is "to accurately and comprehensively supply data for the university community for use (as appropriate) in the planning and implementation of computing resource acquisition and development for the present and future of academic technology." It was explained that the data in the report does not represent machines in labs, and Compaq servers are noted in the "Non-MMS" column. After a short discussion, Maurice noted that each area will have to consider this data in terms of their own needs in order to determine whether or not machines in their area really need to be upgraded.

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 2:30 p.m.

May 9, 2000

VOTING MEMBERS PRESENT: PHILIP TURNER, CHAIR, SUE BYRON, DON GROSE, MARK RORVIG, ROBERT NIMOCKS, DONNA ASHER, JON NELSON, JIM CURRY, JUDITH ADKISON, LOU ANN BRADLEY (for PAUL SCHLIEVE), ELIZABETH HINKLE-TURNER, JENNY JOPLING

NON-VOTING MEMBERS PRESENT: DOWL MORROW (for LESLIE BOWDEN), RICHARD HARRIS, BILL BUNTAIN, MAURICE LEATHERBURY, COY HOGGARD, SUE ELLEN RICHEY (Recording Secretary)

MEMBERS ABSENT: CAROLYN CUNNINGHAM, JONEEL HARRIS, RAMU MUTHIAH, JOHN WINDSOR, GINNY ANDERSON, ALLEN LIVINGSTON, STEVE OEFFNER, VIRGINIA WHEELESS, MIKE FORSTER, RUSS PENSYL, KATHLEEN SWIGGER, PATRICK PLUSCHT

GUESTS: JENNIFER JOHNSON

The minutes of the March 18^th and April 18^th meetings were approved.

IR Steering Committee

The Chair reported that the IR Steering Committee met and discussed the Report on University Computer Inventory and Viability that was prepared by the Standards & Cooperation Program Group. The report met with mixed reviews, with some concern being expressed that it might be used as a club with department chairs and deans. The vice presidents want the report posted on the web but before doing so wanted to add a statement to the effect that there are a lot of machines currently in use on campus that run just fine at their current levels of software and hardware; although upgrades may be needed in the future. Some discussion followed concerning the two- to three-year equipment replacement cycle.

Distributed Computing Support Management Team

Maurice Leatherbury reported for the Distributed Computing Support Management Team that the group has been working on the renewal of UNT’s McAfee software license, determining that it is the package they want to keep for use in virus protection. The DCSMT continues to study personal digital assistant devices and will include the new version of Microsoft’s PDA which has been recently released. Maurice also reported the "I Love You virus" incident that was experienced at UNT on May 4^th, noting that the DCSMT held an emergency meeting to determine an appropriate response. The GroupWise email system was shut down to prevent the proliferation of the virus; however, all GroupWise post offices were back in operation by Monday morning, May 8^th. Network managers had to install the McAfee anti-virus files on all their users’ machines. Robert Nimocks commented that since this virus targeted Microsoft, our Novell network and GroupWise were not hit. Once UNT moves to an LDAP system, it will become much more vulnerable to such infections.

Instruction Program Group

Jenny Jopling reported that the Instruction Program Group is meeting electronically, and that she attended the Texas Distance Learning Association meeting where she met with people who are interested in establishing state-wide, computer-based testing. At this meeting, those interested agreed to continue meeting electronically.

Communications Program Group

Lou Ann Bradley reported for the Communications Program Group that at their last meeting they dealt with updates in the wiring plan for Internet I and II, and reported that the long distance contract was awarded to AT&T.

Administration Program Group

Coy Hoggard reported for Joneel Harris that the Administration Program Group, in their continuing efforts to survey available student information systems, hosted Datatel on April 20^th. This vendor of student information systems presented a very impressive demonstration; however, at the present time they do not have references from institutions as large as UNT, except for some very large community colleges. Coy announced that SCT is scheduled to make their presentation on Friday, May 12, from 9:00am to Noon in the University Union, Room 418. IRC members are invited to attend this presentation.

Standards & Cooperation Program Group

Elizabeth Hinkle-Turner reported that the Standards & Cooperation Program Group is working on a new project outlining all computing services available at UNT for faculty, staff and students, and attempting to determine who should be and who is eligible for those various computing services.

Video-conference rooms

Dr. Turner announced that the COBA, MUSIC and Physics video-conference rooms are now under construction.

Distributed Learning Team

Jenny Jopling reported for Patrick Pluscht and the Distributed Learning Team that the committee has agreed upon an upgrade schedule for WebCT. An announcement will be made to faculty. They are also planning two classes for faculty in May and September.

Team Web

Maurice Leatherbury reported that Team Web has been meeting to work on a revision of the Web Publishing Policy and Guidelines, because of new state regulations that must be incorporated into those documents. Maurice distributed the draft documents, copies of the existing policy and guidelines, as well as a copy of the new state regulations. There was some discussion of the draft documents and Maurice asked that any comments be forwarded to him prior to the June meeting, at which time, revised documents will be presented for approval by the council.

Jon Nelson moved for adjournment; the motion was seconded, and there being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 2:40 p.m.