Technology Council 2008/09 Annual Report
Kathy Pletcher, Chair, Technology Council
The Technology Council is advisory to the Provost and responsible for developing and monitoring the campus technology plan and recommending technology policies. The Council is chaired by the Associate Provost of Information Services. Membership consists of representatives from each of the divisions, three faculty members, and one student.
Members for 2008/09 were:
- Academic Affairs – Tim Sewall
- Advancement – Scott Hildebrand & Lisa DeLeeuw
- Athletics – Dan McIver
- Business & Finance – Sharon Dimmer
- Faculty Representatives - Kaoime Malloy, Uwe Pott, Kate Burns
- Information Services – David Kieper, Paula Ganyard
- Liberal Arts & Sciences – Scott Furlong
- Outreach & Extension - Jan Thornton & Zach Voelz
- Professional & Graduate Studies - Fritz Erickson
- Student Affairs – Sue Keihn
- Student Representative - Shaun Raganyi & Aaron Grutt
- Chair – Kathy Pletcher
- Reviewed progress on the IT 2010 Action in October and March.
- Conducted a technology survey of student and faculty/staff interests/needs in November. Reviewed the results and communicated to students, faculty and staff the results of the survey and the changes undertaken by the IS Division to address concerns.
- Reviewed utilization data for all computer labs and in December approved Academic Computer Lab Plan for 2009/10. The 2009/10 plan includes support for 252 computers, including 41 Macintoshes, in 21 locations. The total cost for the 2009/10 plan is $88,078, which is funded from the Lab Mod Fund.
- Sponsored ECAR Undergraduate Survey of Computer Technology in spring.
- Approved a timeline for developing the next 5 year technology plan to be called UWGB Technology Plan 2015: idea gathering in spring 2009; vetting with campus in fall 2009; approval January 2010; forward to Cabinet for approval Spring 2010.
- Review and approved a revision of the campus Web Policy.
- Supported Information Services decision to remain on the XP operating system rather than upgrade to the troubled Vista enterprise edition in February.
- Reviewed and revised the Technology Council charge and forwarded to Secretary of the Faculty and Academic Staff Office.
- Reviewed an analysis of the cost/benefit of outsourcing email to Google or Microsoft. Following a discussion of the pros and cons the Council concluded that UWGB has a very cost effective and reliable email system.
- Discussed three year replacement cycle for computer replacement and determined that the current model is working well.
- Received an update on the PeopleSoft upgrade, which was underway and scheduled for production the first week of July.
- Discussed the possibility of importing faculty teaching schedules into individual calendars in Outlook. There was no consensus on moving forward with a recommendation.
The Technology Council members feel that the work of the Council is very important to the campus. The Council meets monthly during the fall and spring semesters and is very productive.