Academic Computer Users Committee

Minutes from Thursday, Oct. 3, 2002

 

  1. Attendance: Greg Colf (BUS and chair), Matt Schmidt (AST), David Ward (AST), David Tufte (BUS), Jerry Bowler (EDU), Pat Matteson (HSS and vice chair), Earl Mulderink (HSS), Ben Sowards (PVA), Mikhail Bouniaev (SCI), Adrienne Grimshaw (student), Aaron Jensen (student, Pres. Pro-Tem), Wendy Milam (student, PVA), Jeff Orton (student, BUS), Matt Roper (student, SCI), Chris Crawford (student, SAST),

  2. Approval of September 2002 Minutes:
    No September minutes were available; therefore approval of minutes was postponed.
  3. Music Computer Lab Request:
    LeGrand Andersen, adjunct instructor in Music, requested funding for six MAC computers with CD-RW capability (est. at $1000-1300 ea), printers ( no est. of cost) and interfaces (est. at #80 ea.) to set up a MIDI Lab for composition and music production in the Music Department.
         He stated the following advantages of having the Lab:  1) SUU Music ed. students would be better prepared for high school music teaching, implying that music teachers at that level now use electronic set-ups. 2) Increased usage of the room in the Music Blding and the electronic piano 3) using composing software as increased his own productivity of composing by a factor of 3-4, implies that student’s productivity would increase similarly. 4) SUU students need the opportunity to work in that area of the music industry. 5) the MIDI Lab would be open for all SUU students and could well affect the approximate 102 music majors in the Department.

Mikhail asked three or four times whether the proposed lab would be open to all students since that is ACUC’s purpose, (rather than fund programs in departments), and whether “funding departmental programs is appropriate in principle for ACUC now”? Greg noted, “Typically we don’t do this.” After much discussion and with Earl and Wendy both asking LeGrand to specify whether the proposed lab would be “open or not”, LeGrand said a MIDI Lab would be open to all. Greg said that last year some specific funding for programs in departments was discussed but not passed.

Earl asked why the Music Dept has not already paid for these items? LeGrand answered that Music funds are scarce, for instance, needed instrument repairs are not (even) fully funded.

Discussion also included the idea of placing the software on some computers in currently open labs, where there are not student fees available, for this purpose. LeGrand noted that a noise factor might be prohibitive (despite the suggestion of headphones) and the need to connect to electronic pianos. Also in response to the question of flexibility concerning number of six computers being requested, LeGrand said any number under six would be better than none as is the current situation.

Another query was whether Music would fund the software. LeGrand stated he has three older sets that “would be legal,” implying they have a site license for SUU. He also noted there are 20 MIDI capable keyboards now. 

Also, to the question of whether staffing the lab would be the responsibility of ACUC, LeGrand noted there are already lab techs there. Further, space exists for six more computers.

The question was asked if Music could fund a larger lab, since smaller labs would likely be closed more.

Earl asked: Will Music fund more equipment and the software? Is this a one-time request or will ACUC be expected to fund the lab repeatedly for upgrades.

Wendy motioned to table the discussion for the next meeting in order to have LeGrand provide more information from Music and answers to the committee’s questions. Matt Roper seconded the motion. Passed by unanimous vote.

 

  1. Web site: www.suu.edu/ad/acuc
    Greg noted that when we get the minutes from September’s meeting they will be posted on the new Web site.
  2. Funding request for mediated classrooms
    Greg stated that the Deans’ Council has requested that ACUC approve a one-time $5,000 funding for support of the mediated classrooms, from account #35150, which currently has $79,000. The Dean approved this expenditure in advance of ACUC. (Glenn agreed to this approval in absentia.). Pat motioned to approve.  After more discussion Ben also moved that ACUC approve but “contingent on the Deans’ Council’s recognition that in the future ACUC should receive the request prior to the Deans’ Council, [which means that] the ACUC will approve this request this one-time only with concern that the Dean’s Council follow the protocol in the future.”  As such, the motion was unanimously approved. 

      In answer to Earl’s question about “how we now apply for funds for supporting mediated classrooms”, Greg noted that currently we apply to Glenn.

            Pat wondered if the funding of mediated classrooms should be budgeted for annually and automatically.

 

  1. IT Tour
             Led by Matt Zufelt (seconded by Christian Haynes), the committee visited the Central Computer Center for campus on the ELC fifth flr.  where exist all student records, the new administrative system and financial records (in transition), all Internet connections, Groupwise, IP addresses, network monitoring, the main servers, and the clustered student servers (that now have a new fail-over capability to another server as of late last Wednesday night). Matt estimated the equipment at approximately $1.5-2 million (purchased with one-time money) and noted there is a back-up system in a separate building (a lg. mid-range system, automated). On the ELC third flr., Matt  explained the Data Closet, which houses the campus-wide fiber optic cable system. He said that in case of a power failure, there is a generator for all major data closets, and at least battery backup for minor data closets.

 

  1. Next Meeting: Thursday, November 7, 2002, 4 p.m., ELC 405

  2. Adjourn:  4:55 p.m.
    Greg noted that at the next meeting Glenn will provide a review of student fee usage at other institutions