AT Faculty Advisory Council
Minutes of the September 25, 2003 Meeting

Members Present: Richard Costanzo, Judy Lewis, Lynn Nelson, Wes Poynor, Judy Richardson, Phyllis Self (ex officio), and Mike Tharp

Guest Present: Jim Bostick, Richard Falk, Kari Scott

Members Absent: Peter Baldes, Anil Chatterji, Pat Dattalo, Kathryn Mulholland, Joseph Topich

The meeting convened at 3:05 p.m in the Dentistry Dean’s Conference Room.

I Minutes of the May 15th meeting were adopted as written.

II Welcome Back!
We learned some emergency preparedness lessons by dealing with Isabel, and will be implementing those lessons into our Emergency Preparedness Plan. Special thanks to Mike Davis, who stayed near the computer center and made sure our computers were safe. All the computers had to be taken off-line when it became clear the computer center would lose power for cooling. We also learned that the power reserve at the computer center is only about 30 minutes.

III Discussion Items
Student Representative for AT-FAC: Members decided AT-FAC needed a student member, as only students can discuss what students need, even though it is difficult for students to come. Phyllis will ask for a good student volunteer from AT; AT-FAC members can also recommend students.
Emerging Technologies Student Research Grants: Phyllis introduced these grants, designed to get undergraduate students involved in Emerging Technologies Day. These were funded jointly by AT and AIT. AT-FAC approved moving the deadline (because of Isabel) to 10/17 (Friday). Nelson, Richardson, Tharp will review applications online.
Portal Grant: AT applied for a grant to develop a portal from CampusEAI/Oracle, and was awarded $1.1million for 5 years. Grant consists of software and support/training for VCU staff (but not cash). A development team has been organized (including the VCU Retention Committee). Work will begin on this as soon as the contract and license are signed. We will include single sign-on as part of this project. Judy Lewis motioned to petition the administration to assure AT has the staff and resources to implement and support the Portal Grant. Passed unanimously.
Visioning Retreat: This retreat, “Visioning Technology@VCU” will be held on October 15, 2003 at the University Meeting Center. Phyllis wants VPs involved to discuss funding and policy issues regarding technology on campus. She would also like as many AT-FAC & UITAC members, as well as deans, attend to help shape the future of technology at VCU. We will use results to help develop AT’s strategic plan.

IV Vice Provost Report
Xythos Update: AT has purchased the Xythos file sharing software. AIT is committed to purchasing the hardware to run the software. We had hoped to be ready to beta test in late October or early November. AT-FAC members volunteered to beta test the system.
Laptop Program: FCI computers have been distributed. Training for users is being set up now. AT-FAC members noted that they have some faculty who already have access to laptops who want the FCI training. Phyllis asked that they call Bud Deihl to be included in the training program.
UITAC: Phyllis shared the annual report from UITAC and encouraged AT-FAC members to visit UITAC website (www.vcu.edu/uitac). Wes noted that the committee is top-heavy with administrators and few instructional faculty.
Discussed new Staff structure for AT. Jane took FASO leave. Her position has been eliminated and AT was merged into two departments instead of three. There was discussion about how this will work. Phyllis asked that members to give her comments if they experience a change in service support.

V Director Reports
Security: AT is looking at a broad range of security issues. AT is examining the use of managed client servers that will push updates. We are also looking at a patch management server. There are several possibilities-but not feasible till next year. We would like a managed virus server to be mandatory for students and perhaps opt-out for faculty. Judy Lewis asked about adding the NAV's PDA protection to the NAV contract. Other topics discussed were the possibility of wholesale turning off ports throughout University and access to the level-2 Help Desk System for technical staff.
Blackboard Update: Between 2001-2 and 2002-3 we increased all Blackboard usage statistics and there are now 23,000 unique students in Blackboard. The growth is not stopping. This past fall, the number of courses increased 50%. We have the architecture optimized this year and the increase did not adversely affect the system.
Motion to make sure there is some redundancy to the Bb support staffs also increasing training to Help Desk Staff to handle more problems there. AT will brainstorm other ways to increase support. We will update Bb information document and this information to the President’s Council. We are still planning to upgrade to 6.1 this summer, which will require 2-3 weeks downtime. We plan to have a Bb 5.5 server for summer session. AT-FAC members asked to have this publicized now.
Blackboard Archiving: We are still planning to only support 2 years of archiving. This will need to be done before migration. Rick will compose a memo to get the word out to faculty.
Course Management System RFP: VA Tech is leading an initiative to purchase a course management system for the entire state, which leverages the purchasing power of the commonwealth. This does not mean as much to us, because of our special relationship with Bb, unless we choose to leave Bb. Next meeting, Rick Falk will provide the committee with a status report.

VI Old Business
DMCA: Phyllis has not received a DMCA notice since June. Phyllis sent out memos at the beginning of the school year admonishing both students and faculty to refrain from violating copyright laws. Wes is concerned with the lack of due process in DMCA complaints, which shut off the connection and therefore shut off livelihood of faculty members accused of violating copyright (and other computer use) rules. We will discuss this issue at the next AT-FAC meeting.

VII New Business
No new business as we had run out of time.

VIII Adjournment at 5:00 pm.