UNIVERSITY OF NORTH TEXAS
INFORMATION RESOURCES COUNCIL
Tuesday, March 11, 2003
VOTING MEMBERS PRESENT: PHILIP TURNER, Chair, BRIDGETTE CARTER (for DONNA ASHER), PAUL HONS (for JUDITH ADKISON), CAROLYN WHITLOCK, ELIZABETH HINKLE-TURNER, RAMU MUTHIAH, KENN MOFFITT, RICHARD HARRIS (for JONEEL HARRIS), LYNETTE KIMBLE (for VIRGINIA WHEELESS), JENNY JOPLING
NON-VOTING MEMBERS PRESENT: PATRICK PLUSCHT, JUDY HUNTER, JOE ADAMO, MAURICE LEATHERBURY, SUE ELLEN RICHEY (Recording Secretary)
MEMBERS ABSENT: DUNCAN ENGLER, LOU ANN BRADLEY, DON GROSE, COY HOGGARD, CRAIG BERRY, JON NELSON, CENGIZ CAPAN, JOHN PRICE, JIM CURRY, DOUG MAINS, ROBERT NIMOCKS, CHRISTY CRUTSINGER, TOM JACOB, ARMIN MIKLER, BOBBY CARTER, ABRAHAM JOHN, DUNCAN ENGLER
GUESTS: JENNIFER LAFLEUR
The minutes of the February 18, 2003, were not approved since there was not a quorum present.
Jenny Jopling reported that the Instruction Program Group has not met, but announced that the SkillSoft tutorials for approximately 200 courses are now available on the server. CD versions are also available. Elizabeth Hinkle-Turner added that her article in the last issue of Benchmarks tells all about these new tutorials.
The Chair announced that the Information Resources Steering Committee has not met since the last IRC meeting, but he is pursuing the status of the Web Publishing Policy.
Maurice Leatherbury reported that the Distributed Computing Support Management Team met at the Research Park two weeks ago where they heard a report from Joneel Harris on the progress of the EIS Project and enjoyed a tour of the facility. Last Friday, the DCSMT met and talked about security and responsibilities of network managers to keep good security on their systems, especially in light of the Univ. of Texas at Austin incident.
There was no report from the Communications Planning Group.
Richard Harris reported for the EIS Planning Group that the project is progressing as planned.
Maurice Leatherbury reported that the Research Program Group will meet this Thursday afternoon.
Kenn Moffitt reported for the Standards and Policy Planning Group that they plan a meeting soon, because they have several issues to address.
Elizabeth Hinkle-Turner reported that the Student Computing Planning Group has not met while she was on maternity leave, but plans to begin meeting to work on the Student Computing Survey that they are developing. She stated that they have a server in place to use in conducting the survey.
Patrick Pluscht reported for the Distributed Learning Team that they will meet this Thursday. He announced that UNT received the Annual Award for Outstanding Commitment to the Texas Distance Learning Association. Gloria Meraz, Director of Communications for the Texas Library Association spoke at that event on the subject of the Telecommunications Infrastructure Fund. Patrick explained that there is pending legislation that would remove Health Science Centers and Libraries from eligibility for TIF grants. He encouraged members to contact their legislators regarding this bill.
Patrick also announced that the CCCCD videoconference site at Preston Ridge has been taken offline due to lack of use. In addition, he announced that there will be a University Forum on "Observing and Evaluating Instruction: Online and Face-To-Face What are the Challenges?" on March 25, 2:30-4:00 pm in Matthews Hall, Room 112. There will also be a Critical Challenges in Distance Education Satellite Program called "Cheating and Plagiarism Using the Internet" on April 3, 1:30-3:00 pm in Chilton Hall, Room 245. Patrick shared a letter to the NT Daily Editor from a mother who was expressing her gratitude for the on-line courses available to her and stating her desire for additional on-line course development, especially in the core curriculum.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 2:25 p.m.