1. Approval of Minutes
2. Announcements - Chair Smiley
3. Announcements - Vice Provost Bruno
4. Discussion of options for implementing campuswide Wireless Network, centralized vs. decentralized approaches - Dave Klem / Kevin Rhodes
5. Progress towards implementing Student Computer Expectation Statement for Fall 2001 - Pat Kava

Excused: Janet Hamilton, Bob Loessberg-Zahl, Robert Ono, and Dave Shelby.

Absent: Earlene Ford.

Staff to the Council: Debbie Lauriano, Randy Moory, and Babette Schmitt.

1. Approval of Minutes

   The Council approved the minutes as submitted.

    
   

2. Announcements - Chair Smiley

   Chair Smiley reminded the Council about the joint meeting with the Academic Computer Coordinating Council (AC4) on March 29, 2001 to discuss the future of MyUCDavis. The Chair asked Council members what issues they wanted addressed at this joint meeting. Issues identified by Chair Smiley were costs for maintenance, costs for enhancement, and alternatives to not developing MyUCDavis. Another Council member suggested the prioritization of budget requests as a topic for meeting.

   Council asked that the joint meeting consider the topics of establishing a process to plan the future development of MyUCDavis and how workload for adding functionality to MyUCDavis is distributed between IET and the business units. Discussion identified the need to integrate several systems into a service offering. An example given is the Electronic Funds Transfer application that involves Banner, DaFIS, and the portal. Council asked that the joint meeting have teams from these joint projects report the workload apportionment between IET and the system owners.

   Council discussions merged the topics of the joint meeting with AC4 and the enterprise portal framework. Comments reflected the Council's desire to distinguish between redevelopment of an application to a portal model and adding new services and functionality. Members noted that some services could be put into a portal fairly simply and others required complete re-engineering of the system processes. Others commented that failure to create a campus portal could result in individual campus units development of unit specific portals that could not be integrated with others. Council member comments also recommended examination of the non-technical issues such as recruitment and ease of obtaining information.

    
   

3. Announcements - Vice Provost Bruno

   Vice Provost Bruno provided an overview of the report, "UC Davis Enterprise Portal: A New Paradigm for the Coordination and Delivery of Administrative Services". Bruno said the threads that formed the genesis of the report were:

   • The State of IT report requested by Provost Grey
   • The need to develop a coordinated approach for reviewing administrative computing systems proposals
   • The rapid development and adoption of portal technology to deliver services, and
   • The New Business Architecture Report.

   Vice Provost Bruno summarized the report. The report has several sections addressing information technology issues for the campus. The report presents a service view orientation versus a systems capability view. Report sections address: (1) the technology of portals and the role the portal could play on the campus and (2) the campus information technology coordinating framework and the role of each piece of the coordination structure.

   Vice Provost Bruno suggested several steps to follow the report. He recommended that the reports from the Tier 1 and 2 administrative computing systems should be completed. The system proposals should be evaluated on how well they work within an enterprise portal framework.

   The Council discussed the need for using the framework and evaluating a project's importance to the campus. Noted, for example, is how the New Business Architecture provides insufficient guidance for expending resources to implement the strategy. Some Council members asked whether the campus would actually follow the New Business Architecture. Vice Provost Bruno replied that the formation of the New Business Architecture Steering Committee and his report were focused on development of an enterprise portal strategy for the campus.

   Council members requested that criteria be developed for measuring a system proposal against. Suggestions for criteria included maintaining or enhancing competitiveness of the University, retaining staff, serving the needs of faculty, providing easier access and availability of information, supporting the academic mission of the University.

   Council asked that the framework proposal be expanded to include criteria for evaluating and ranking system proposals. Chair Smiley asked the Vice Provost add the criteria section to the report.

    
   

4. Discussion of options for implementing campuswide Wireless Network, centralized vs. decentralized approaches - Dave Klem / Kevin Rhodes
   Handout: Wireless Directions, Feb. 2001 (PowerPoint presentation)

   Dave Klem, Information and Educational Technology, presented an overview of the project to deploy wireless technology, its status, and its implications for the campus. Klem discussed the factors driving the project, the options for either a centralized or decentralized approach and their respective benefits and drawbacks, and the issues under investigation (e.g., security, management, funding). (See PowerPoint Slides) Klem noted that wireless technology will not eliminate the need for a wired network.

   The ad hoc deployment of wireless technology presents challenges, including how to deal with interference between systems. This poses technical problems and creates frustration for users. Security risks must be addressed to protect the integrity and stability of the network and campus resources. Klem noted that the campus urgently needs an acceptable use policy and a coordinated implementation plan for wireless deployment in public areas. Klem warned that we need to be more proactive in this area; the campus is dangerously close to operating in a reactive mode, which could quickly become costly and problematic.

   Council asked about the security issues related to deployment of wireless. Kevin Rhodes, Network Operations Center Manager, that wireless had significant security problems because of the ability of wireless users becoming nodes on the network without the knowledge of administrators. In promiscuous mode, a wireless device could capture information from all other nodes in the network.

   Council asked Chair Smiley about deployment of wireless in the Graduate School of Management. Chair Smiley indicated it was a competitiveness issue. The only problem potentially arising is the use of laptops during lecture sessions. It is a distraction to some faculty members.

    
   

5. Progress towards implementing Student Computer Expectation Statement for Fall 2001 - Pat Kava

   Pat Kava, Information and Educational Technology, reported on the Student Computer Ownership Workgroup's progress toward implementing the Statement of Expectation developed by AC4 over a year ago. Starting this fall, all undergraduate incoming students will be expected to have a computer that meets minimum campuswide software and hardware requirements (e.g., word processing, internet connectivity, spreadsheet). Kava reported that the workgroup sent a Request for Information (RFI) to 12 vendors in September and received responses from 5 vendors. After evaluating the responses, the workgroup decided to pursue negotiations with Compaq, Dell, Gateway, and Apple to provide computers that meet UC Davis specific requirements and configurations. The workgroup is also investigating financial aid options and the possibility of providing on-campus support through Computer and Printer Repair. Kava also reported the workgroup is looking a computer literacy classes for incoming students.

   Kava will work with the Council of Associate Deans to identify any special hardware and software requirements schools and colleges might have. This information will be included on the official Web site (http://computerownership.ucdavis.edu/). Kava indicated that the Web site, user documentation and general communications are under development, including the new Recommended Solution describing software and hardware recommendations. Several articles on the Statement of Expectation have already appeared in campus publications, including the IT Times, the Aggie, and UC Davis Magazine. More awareness efforts are planned through Summer Advising and ResNet. AC4 will soon be asked to review the workgroup's budget request for a marketing campaign to reach all entering undergraduate students before Fall 2001.

   Council asked whether computer would be available to faculty and staff through the program. Kava replied any affiliate would be able to purchase through the program but the computer setup would be focused on students. Kava also replied that the workgroup is trying to select a single vendor for program depending on the requirements of University policies.