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Technology Advisory Council Meeting- May 16, 2003

Attendees: Jim Monaghan, William Aguilar, Carolyn Aldana, Richard Botting, Joe Scarcella, Kurt Collins, Michael Ross, Robert McGowan, Steve Cuddigan, Ramiro DiazGranados, Michael Freire (guest), Tony Coulson

Old Business -: Apple's xServer which is Apple's equivalent to the Citrix Server: Comments were requested at the last meeting and none were given regarding this proposal. Support via email was given towards this proposal. The solution it provides for non-windows machines makes this worth testing. It was suggested to use obsolete equipment and track the results.

A motion to support the Apple xServe initiative was approved unanimously. The xServe will provide single source authentication for all Macintosh computers and net booting for hard-wired connected network computers. The servers will be tested during the Fall on a limited basis and expanded during the Winter 2004 quarter.

Blackboard SubCommittee - A comparison of the options of the 3 vendors were given out. It was recommended to go with Blackboard. However, the need for funding the continued use of Blackboard was reiterated with the suggestion that a $10 student fee would enable continuous access to Blackboard student accounts. BATS funding of Blackboard is not long term funding. There was much discussion on BATS funding, its viability to the campus and the history of Blackboard. Dr. Aguilar requested a memo addressed to himself and to Dr. Lou Fernandez as to what BATS recommends based not only on the money issue but on hardware concerns and the erosion of baseline funding.

WebCT is to be phased out during the next year. There be conversations with WebCT individual users about moving over to Blackboard and there will be training to assist with the transition to Blackboard.

A motion was made to approve BATS funding of $70,000 this and $50,000 next year for Blackboard, for a total commitment of $120,000. 8 voted for the motion and 4 abstained. A suggestion was made that Blackboard be explored utilizing Linux servers.

NAS Sub Committee - The NAS was ordered on Monday. $10,286 is the cost for 768gb.

Computer Funding Proposal -

College of Social and Behavior Sciences has a proposal to use BATS' $20,000 for finishing the 22 Smart Classrooms that are currently in various stages of completion.

The CBPA dean has committed to take 60 old computers off the inventory list and to purchase new computers with BATS' $20,000.