Eastern Oregon University

Tech-Fee Committee Meeting

December 7, 2006

Members Present:   Steffany Long, Linda Fratztke, Brian Sather, Charles Martin, Janet Hume-Schwarz

Resource Members Present:  Paul Rowan, Karen Clay, Anna Maria Dill, Michael Sirrine, Helen Moore

Guest:  Jon Norris, Kerry Loewen, Kevin Roy

Minutes from the November 30, 2006 meeting were approved.

Jon Norris, Media Services Supervisor, discussed the Media Library.  The Library is working well, but there are issues surrounding the amount of time required to manage it.  Labor needs for the Media Library should be evaluated and a solution worked out.   He has been working with Gibb on ways to streamline the process, but options are limited.    All equipment must be inspected at check-out and check-in.  This includes all components of each piece of equipment.  Jon shared an incident that occurred recently when a student checked out one of the digital cameras and all its components.  When the camera was returned a lesser quality memory card was returned instead of the one that had been checked out.  From now on, the serial number of the memory cards will be noted whenever a camera is checked out.

Jon said it is very important that we establish fines and penalties for not returning equipment on time.  After discussion it was agreed that the fines should be scaled to the availability and cost of the equipment and, in addition to fines for repeat offenders, check-out privileges could be revoked.  Jon agreed put together a fine and penalty schedule to add to the Media Library policy (he noted that he is revising the policy as necessary to reflect the reality of the Library’s operation).  He will include a clause regarding failure of equipment at no fault to the student, as well as a grievance procedure. 

Kerry Loewen discussed his proposal to add additional cameras to the Media Library (Loan Library Digital Still Camera Additions).  He stressed that he believes the Media Library has been a success and commended Jon Norris and Gibb Pollard for the work they have done to get it up and running.  The purpose of Kerry’s proposal is to give more students access to the still cameras.  He gave the example of a photography student who needs to complete a portfolio for class, but can’t afford to buy a new camera.  Jon Norris agreed that the models of cameras requested on this proposal were good choices.

Kerry acknowledged the concern regarding labor needs and the Media Library.  The idea of giving students Practicum Credit for working in the Media Library was suggested.  Kerry stated that he would wholeheartedly support that idea and would try to get this type of project set up as soon as possible.   He also suggested that we investigate Pierce Library as a possible location for the Media Library.  Karen agreed that moving the Media Library to Pierce was possible and might alleviate some of the labor issues, but stressed there were logistical issues that would have to be addressed before any decisions were made.

Kevin Roy discussed his Camcorders for Media Loan Library proposal.  He stated that the purpose of this proposal was to make lower end video cameras accessible to more students.  Jon Norris said the models in the proposals were good choices. 

Subject of how long it would be before the changes in technology rendered the still and/or the video cameras obsolete was discussed.  It was agreed by Kevin, Kerry and Jon that the cameras selected should be adequate for student needs for up to five years (which is about the longest time you can expect any technology to last before it is updated).

Janet handed out a packet of the latest revisions to the Business Testing-Simulation Lab proposal which reflected the committee’s preference for locating the lab in Zabel Hall 204A.   Several observations were made including:

• There is a very great need for this type of testing lab.
• There are already 3 conference rooms in Zabel Hall and Inlow Hall has a new “large” conference room. 
• Students, faculty and the university as a whole would be much better served by turning this room into a Testing Lab than by leaving it a conference room.

The committee will invite Provost Miller to our next meeting (January 18th) to discuss the Testing Lab.

Helen initiated a discussion of labor costs for General Purpose lab aides.  Ste stated that due to budget cuts, the IT Department was no longer able to pay 30% of the General Purpose lab aides’ wages.  Currently, this is the only area where Tech Fee student labor is being subsidized by a budget other than Tech Fee.  Several options were discussed including reducing the hours that the Ackerman Lab is open, but it was decided to take the 30% out of the Replacement/Maintenance budget for the remaining of this year and  re-evaluate the decision later in Spring Term when data  regarding the Ackerman Lab usage will be available.

Next meeting scheduled for 7:00am, Thursday, January 18th, 2007.

Minutes submitted by Helen Moore