KU ACTC Final Report

Final Report for 2005-2006 from the

Academic Computing & Telecommunications Committee

The Academic Computing & Telecommunications Committee (ACTC) for the 2005-2006 year included sixteen members representing students, faculty and staff. The membership list is attached as Exhibit I. The charges to the Committee are attached as Exhibit II.

In order to address this diverse set of charges, ACTC instituted several subcommittees, a Research Computing Subcommittee, a Library Subcommittee, and a Connectivity/Security/Services Subcommittee. The subcommittee membership, charges, and activities are listed below.

Research Computing Subcommittee:

Chair: Joe Evans

Members: Donna Liss, Ward Thompson, Satya Mandal, John Stobaugh

Subcommittee charges:

3. Interact with other governance committees as needed, including

b. Research Committee on the needs of faculty/staff members conducting research

6. Brief the Faculty Council at its 11/10/05 meeting on the university-wide plan for a research computing infrastructure and how best to develop sustainable policies and procedures to support campus needs. Make policy recommendations related to the development of an institutional research computing infrastructure.

Activities:

1. This subcommittee and individual members met with the Faculty Senate Research Committee (FSRC), and in particular the FSRC Subcommittee on Research Computing, several times. Items of mutual concern as well as ongoing efforts to implement a university-wide cyberinfrastructure plan were discussed. A briefing prepared for the meeting with FSRC RCS on 16 March 2006 is attached as Exhibit IV. ACTC and FSRC RCS agree in principle that Governance needs to become more formally involved in the oversight of research cyberinfrastructure, and joint recommendations should be formulated.

2. The activities of ACTC in regards to research cyberinfrastructure (as well as the other activities of ACTC) were presented to the University Senate Executive Committee at its 13 March 2006 meeting. This presentation is attached as Exhibit III. The cyberinfrastructure plan outlined in this presentation was briefed to the Provost’s Office on 27 March 2006 and was received favorably. Governance support for this plan would further enhance this initiative.

Library Subcommittee:

Chair: Holly Mercer

Members: Eva Horn, Bill Comer, Merhdad Hosni, Riley Dutton

Subcommittee charges:

2. Provide advice and direction to units providing resources on how advancements in computing and telecommunication can improve learning at KU, including:

c. KU Libraries on learning environment, such as the development of collaborative learning space in which students, faculty and staff members can work in teams.

3. Interact with other governance committees as needed, including

a. Library Committee on advancements in information technology, and

Activities:

1. This subcommittee met and discussed the computing and telecommunications issues relating to the KU Libraries. No urgent recommendations were forthcoming.

Connectivity/Security/Services Subcommittee:

Chair: Brian Hanabury

Members: Liz Johnson, Albert Sheu, Thelma Simons, James Waegelein, Arthur Jones

Subcommittee charges:

1. Gather information about current developments, needs and concerns in computing and telecommunications through a collaborative effort among faculty, student and staff members. Recommend changes to Senex and provide feedback to appropriate groups in areas such as:

a. Connectivity, such as wireless networking and the use of online and storage systems.

b. Security, such as password protection and thefts of identity and intellectual property.

2. Provide advice and direction to units providing resources on how advancements in computing and telecommunication can improve learning at KU, including:

a. Center for Teaching Excellence on the uses of technology in teaching, including methods for improving instruction in classrooms and online.

b. Instructional Development and Support (IDS) on courseware (Blackboard), mediated classrooms, and faculty training needs.

d. Academic Computing Services (ACS) on training needs of students, faculty and staff.

e. Continuing Education on distance learning programs.

5. Discuss with the Academic Achievement and Access Center ways in which technology improvements can assist students with disabilities. This may include creating the position of Assistive Technology Coordinator to ensure that future web/computer based technologies are fully accessible.

Activities:

1. This subcommittee met and discussed mechanisms for effectively gathering information on needs and developments. The subcommittee recommends development of a targeted survey in order to gather information from focused audiences in order to yield a manageable amount of data. Some of the proposed content for this survey appears in the presentation in Exhibit III. This survey would be performed in the next academic year.

2. The issue of the impact of technology improvements on the mission of the Academic Achievement and Access Center was discussed and the Committee was supportive of the notion of creating a Assistive Technology Coordinator position.

In addition to the subcommittee activities, ACTC met as a whole several times. In a meeting of particular note, Denise Stephens, the Vice Provost for Information Services, briefed Committee on the status and plans for KU Information Services. Among other plans, Information Services anticipates issuing annual reports, which will improve communication with the University community.

Exhibit I.

Academic Computing & Telecommunications Committee

2005-2006

Chair: Joe Evans, EECS, (2008)

Council Rep: Albert Sheu, Math

Bill Comer, Slavic Languages (2006)

John Stobaugh, Pharm. Chem (2007)

Holly Mercer, Libraries (2008)

Satya Mandal, Math, (2008)

Eva Horn, Education (2008)

Ward Thompson, Chem. (2008)

Jim Waegelein, Business (2008)

Arthur Jones, Vice Chair, Student

Merhdad Hosni, Student

Riley Dutton, Student

Liz Johnson, Student,

Thelma Simons, Academic Computing, Unclassified Senate rep (2006)

Brian Hanabury, Libraries, University Support Staff Rep (2008)

Ex-officio - Donna Liss, Assoc. Vice-Provost, Informational Services

Note: Dates in parentheses represent end of term of membership.

Exhibit II.

Charges to the Academic Computing and Telecommunications Committee for FY06

Standing Charges

a. Connectivity, such as wireless networking and the use of online and storage systems.

b. Security, such as password protection and thefts of identity and intellectual property.

2. Provide advice and direction to units providing resources on how advancements in computing and telecommunication can improve learning at KU, including:

a. Center for Teaching Excellence on the uses of technology in teaching, including methods for improving instruction in classrooms and online.

b. Instructional Development and Support (IDS) on courseware (Blackboard), mediated classrooms, and faculty training needs.

c. KU Libraries on learning environment, such as the development of collaborative learning space in which students, faculty and staff members can work in teams.

d. Academic Computing Services (ACS) on training needs of students, faculty and staff.

e. Continuing Education on distance learning programs.

3. Interact with other governance committees as needed, including

a. Library Committee on advancements in information technology, and

b. Research Committee on the needs of faculty/staff members conducting research

4. Submit to SenEx:

a. Approved minutes of each meeting.

b. Recommendations for action as they are approved by the committee.

c. A final report by April 1, 2006. For each of the above charges, the report should describe the committee’s findings and recommendations, including suggestions for the following year’s charges.

Additional Charge

Exhibit III.

Presentation to University Senate Executive Committee

Exhibit IV.

Presentation to

Faculty Senate Research Committee’s Subcommittee on Research Computing