The strategies associated with the Research Program Group are as follows:
C1: Provide graduate students with the advanced computing and other technological resources sufficient to support computing-intensive research needs. HIGH
1.1 Design, build, and operate an Advanced Visualization Lab.
D1: Continue ongoing operations that support the information technology UNT now depends upon to accomplish its mission. HIGH
D5: Replace the current academic mainframe with one or more systems that provide same or better functionality and reduce operating cost. HIGH
E1: Equip faculty with advanced computing and other technological resources sufficient to support research and creative needs. HIGH
E2: Enhance and expand access to current information databases to assist with the development of grants and contracts. HIGH
The approach of the Research Program Group of the Information Sources Committee has been two pronged; 1)the acquisition and implementation of an enhanced UNIX-based platform and 2)the implementation of the Innovative Projects Program.
Last spring the IRC voted in support of $750k to purchase a UNIX platform system with the intent of providing an attractive alternative to the use of the mainframe for research. The vice-presidents allocated $500k toward this purpose for the initial purchase of such a machine. At the behest of the Academic Computing Center, we coordinated four open meetings with users (and prospective users) of this proposed system to identify the needs that were to be met and to identify a viable solution. The result of this process, which was coordinated with Academic Computing, is the in-progress purchase of a multi-processor SUN system with 1GB of RAM, 100GB of disk storage, and the software that was identified by the user group. The base system is to be in place by the Fall '96 semester. The Computing Center is to facilitate the migration of specific application usage from the mainframe to the new platform while maintaining continuity. The migration is to be virtually seamless for at least the first year (until Fall '97) for users of applications such as SPSS and SAS. Databases currently supported on the mainframe are to be updated and streamlined when converted to on-line access of the most used databases. Successful migration of these databases requires the active participation of the users of these databases. This process also has already begun.
Addressing Institutional Strategies:
Each of the above Institutional Strategies is addressed at least in part by the enhanced UNIX system purchase and implementation.
Resources:
Approximately two person-months of planning and investigation have been expended in identifying and preparing the purchase order for the new UNIX research machine. An additional three to four person-months in Academic Computing will be required to make the transition to the new platform. Those resources are already in place and will not necessitate the hiring of more persons.
Future Requirements:
The allocation of the additional $250k (to supplement the $500k already allocated and to bring the total allocation up the amount initially requested and recommended by the IRC) will allow the project to come to full fruition.
The Innovative Projects Program was introduced by the RPG as a method of soliciting the best ideas from the most direct link with our students and the learning process, the faculty. Recognizing that research at a university is only another facet of the education of our students, the RPG outlined an innovative managerial concept where the faculty's creative prowess can be used more fully. The concept is to provide a pot of money (>$500k/yr) and to let the faculty propose uses of these funds that would best meet the educational needs of the students. Included in the proposal is the identification of a management structure and the individual(s) responsible for its implementation. The IRC has twice voted to support this program with $500k/yr but no funds have been allocated.
Addressing Institutional Strategies:
The implementation of the Innovative Project Program would directly address action item C1:1.1 and another broad range of goals including for example: B1, C1, C2, C3, D1, D5, D10, E1, E2, E4. One would expect that the less restrictive the guidelines for implementation, the more innovative the proposals would be. It should be pointed out that in addition to implementing the existing strategies, this would be an excellent method for gathering concepts for future planning.
Future Requirements:
Since not funds have been allocated for this project, nothing has happened to meet these goals. It will still take $500k/yr to implement this concept.
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