Eastern Oregon University

Tech-Fee Committee Minutes

October 6, 2005

Members Present:  Frederick Pratter, Anna Cavinato, Linda Fratzke, Steffany Long, Jessica Zimmerer, Darren Hendrickson, Bryan Pearson

Resource Members Present:  Anna Maria Dill, Shirley Roberts, Paul Rowan

Tech Fee Committee met on this date at 7:00 am in Pierce Library.

Paul Rowan, the new director of Information Technology, was introduced to the committee members.  Frederick Pratter will contact Bob Larison to determine whether or not he will continue serving on the committee.  Bob is semi-retired and only working part-time.

The reorganization of administrative duties within the College of Arts and Sciences and how that relates to the Tech Fee proposal review process was discussed.  Currently, the dean provides the department review for each proposal, but that responsibility may be delegated to the department chairs.  No decision has been made at this time.  Anna Cavinato will clarify with Dean Levine.

Committee asked Paul Rowan to initiate the development of a formal strategic plan for the Tech Fee Committee.  Anna Cavinato stressed that even though there has been no formal strategic plan for the committee in the past, the committee charge was carefully considered during the process of awarding funds.

Helen Moore expressed a concern regarding an inconsistency in how various Tech Fee color printers are used and maintained around campus.  Use of the printers in the general purpose labs require the purchase of special paper to help prevent damage caused by lower quality paper.  However, many of the specialty labs (the Ag/Business Lab, for example) have no such requirements and as a result, experience much higher maintenance costs.  At the next meeting Helen will provide a list of the location of all the Tech Fee printers on campus and the issue of how to standardize the use of Tech Fee printers across campus will be discussed at that time.

Frederick brought forward concerns from Kerry Lowen and Kevin Roy regarding security for the equipment in the new MultiMedia lab in Loso Hall. Helen indicated that the Electronic Learning Environment stations are furnished with cameras and Darren explained that the images are stored on a hard drive and can be reviewed as needed.  Helen indicated that there might be two “extra” cameras that were purchased as part of the original proposal, one of which could be used for this purpose.  Frederick would also like to have a camera installed in the Computer Science Lab (BH 123) in Badgley Hall. 

Shirley Roberts asked the committee to consider placing an Electronic Learning Environment station in the Library Conference Room, and a ceiling mount projector in the East half of the Pierce Computer Lab.  Both areas are used as classrooms and the library was totally overlooked when the original Electronic Learning Environment proposal was funded.  Frederick asked Shirley to put together a proposal for the committee to consider at the next meeting.  Helen will also ask the AV Department to prepare a cost estimate for the proposal.

Frederick brought an idea from Kerry Lowen to the committee to establish a central repository for digital cameras, recorders and other similar equipment purchased by the Tech Fee.   This would allow students to check the equipment out and provide a mechanism for tracking the equipment.  The Audiovisual department was suggested as an ideal location for this repository since the procedure for equipment checkout is already in place and AV is already significantly involved with maintenance of Tech Fee equipment (i.e. Electronic Learning Environment).  Paul informed the committee that a possible reorganization of the audiovisual department is being considered and there needs to be further discussion on the issue. 

Darren was asked to continue his role as student co-chair of the committee for the 2005-06 academic year.  He agreed to do so.

Current year proposals are due on Friday October 21, 2005.  Helen will distribute copies and a ranking sheet to committee members no later than 5:00pm on Monday, October 24.  Members are asked to read the proposals and complete the ranking sheets prior to the next meeting, which is scheduled for Thursday October 27th, 7:00am in the Library Conference Room.

Minutes submitted by Helen Moore