IRC News Minutes provided by Sue Ellen Richey, Recording Secretary

IRC Regular and Ex-officio Voting Members: Judith Adkison, College of Education; Donna Asher, Administrative Affairs; Craig Berry, School of Visual Arts; Lou Ann Bradley, Communications Planning Group; Cengiz Capan, College of Business and GALC; Bobby Carter, UNT Health Science Center; Matt Creel, Student Government Association; Christy Crutsinger, Faculty Senate; Jim Curry, Academic Administration; Don Grose, Libraries and University Planning Council; Joneel Harris, EIS Planning Group; Elizabeth Hinkle-Turner, Student Computing Planning Group; Tom Jacob, College of Arts and Sciences; Abraham John, Student Development; Jenny Jopling, Instruction Planning Group; Armin Mikler, Research Planning Group; Kenn Moffitt, Standards and Cooperation Program Group; Ramu Muthiah, School of Community Services; Jon Nelson, College of Music; Robert Nimocks, Director, Information Technology, UNTHSC; John Price, UNT System Center; Philip Turner, School of Library and Information Science and University Planning Council (Chair, IRC); VACANT, Graduate Student Council; VACANT, Staff Council; VACANT, University Planning Council; Virginia Wheeless, Chancellor, for Planning; Carolyn Whitlock, Finance and Business Affairs;  IRC Ex-officio Nonvoting Members: Jim Curry, Microcomputer Maintenance and Classroom Support Services; Richard Harris, Computing Center and University Planning Council; Coy Hoggard, Computing Center/Administrative; Judy Hunter, GALMAC; Maurice Leatherbury, Computing Center/Academic; Doug Mains, UNT Health Science Center; Patrick Pluscht, Center for Distributed Learning; Sue Ellen Richey, Computing Center (Recording Secretary); Ken Sedgley, Telecommunications.

October 15, 2002

VOTING MEMBERS PRESENT:  PHILIP TURNER, Chair, ELIZABETH HINKLE-TURNER, MATT CREEL, RAMU MUTHIAH, CRAIG BERRY, KENN MOFFITT, CHRISTY CRUTSINGER, JIM CURRY, COY HOGGARD (for JONEEL HARRIS), BRIDGETTE CARTER (for DONNA ASHER), CENGIZ CAPAN, WIL CLARK (for JOHN PRICE), PAUL HONS (for JUDITH ADKISON), JON NELSON NON-VOTING MEMBERS PRESENT: RICHARD HARRIS, COY HOGGARD, JUDY HUNTER, MAURICE LEATHERBURY, SUE ELLEN RICHEY (Recording Secretary) MEMBERS ABSENT: PATRICK PLUSCHT, DOUG MAINS, CAROLYN WHITLOCK, TOM JACOB, LOU ANN BRADLEY, JENNY JOPLING, VIRGINIA WHEELESS, DON GROSE, ROBERT NIMOCKS, ARMIN MIKLER, BOBBY CARTER, ABRAHAM JOHN

Communications Planning Group

Maurice Leatherbury reported for the Communications Planning Group, stating that the group met about two weeks ago to discuss the reorganization of Telecommunications and Data Communications. He reported that he has begun interviewing for the vacant Director of Communications Services position. Maurice stated that Data Communications is working to correct the problems the Library Annex has been having with the microwave link. In addition, the group discussed the possibility of dropping the Premium Remote Access service due to the fact that subscriptions have fallen off and the service is no longer able to support itself.

Philip Turner brought up the issue of the scarcity of and the need for an on-line testing site or sites at UNT. With over 5,000 students taking on-line courses, there is a definite need for testing sites for those students. Dr. Turner suggested that he and Jenny Jopling meet with the Chair of GALMAC, as well as General Access Lab Managers to discuss the possibility of using General Access Labs as testing sites. Wil Clark stated that the System Center designated a classroom as a testing facility. 

EIS Planning Group

Coy Hoggard reported for the EIS Planning Group that there has been a lot of interest in the Fit gap meetings, and they are going well.

Standards & Policy Planning Group

Kenn Moffitt reported for the Standards & Policy Planning Group by presenting the Desktop Computer Replacement Schedule and the Web Accessibility Policy and Guidelines document for a vote. It was explained that the Department of Information Resources required the development of the Desktop Computer Replacement Schedule and that the Web Accessibility Policy is required by state law. A vote was taken of the members and both the Replacement Schedule and Web Accessibility Policy were approved.

Student Computing Planning Group

Elizabeth Hinkle-Turner reported that the Student Computing Planning Group has not met, but the group is working on fulfilling a request for a poster campaign to help students understand how to obtain an EUID.

TIF grant funding

The Chair asked Maurice Leatherbury to discuss the TIF grant funding. 

Maurice explained that when HB 2128 was first passed, establishing the grant, it was scheduled to expire in 2006. Since collections have been made ahead of schedule, the grant will expire in 2003 instead. The TIF grant funding has been important in providing discounts for purchases of data communications equipment for the University, as well as providing funds for major capital improvements such as video-conferencing rooms. Libraries have benefited the most from this funding so there is a movement by libraries across the state to get the TIF fund, or something like it continued. Wil Clark remarked that it would be beneficial to let the public know of TIF funding benefits so that they will write to their senators in support of it.