ITAC

October 7, 1999

I. IRAB meeting schedule

It was decided that IRAB would meet this semester on alternate Thursdays from 10:00 AM until 11:30 AM in the large conference room in Doane.

II. Ohio Five proposal

Scott Siddall reviewed a draft proposal to the Five Colleges of Ohio for a "virtual technology center" which would be more of a program than a facility. The proposal focuses on opportunities to share resources largely in the academic enterprise among the five colleges. A draft has been discussed by the five technology directors and has been preliminarily discussed by the five presidents. A task force of Ohio Five representatives will be assembled to discuss the possibility further.

III. Electronic classrooms

Ron Howard gave a summer on the status of electronic classrooms on campus. Ten installations were completed in 1998 with seven to be done in 1999, plus two more in separate budgets.

IV. Computing Equipment Requests

Joe Fleming presented a summary of the processes used by Computing Services to gather computing equipment requests. A copy of last year's spreadsheet was circulated to assist the discussion of the process that is being used this year.

Joe also circulated a memo in which he proposed that part of the annual budget be set aside as an "Innovation Fund" for uses of information technology. Grants from the Innovation Fund would be awarded competitively, preferably by a subcommittee of IRAB heavily represented by faculty. The proposal was discussed and endorsed.