Information Technology Committee
Minutes
October 18, 1996
Present: Max Bassett (by phone), Arnold Bradford, Tom Butler, Laura
McCullough, George Duffy (acting chair), Fran Emory, Yitna Firdyiwek, Paul McVeigh,
Vince Pizzurro, Neil Reynolds, Steven Sachs, John Sener, Lionel Sylvas, Charlotte
Wilhelmi.
Absent: Dan Himes, Gail Kettlewell
1. Reports from last meetings subcommittees
a. Infrastructure Survey - Mr. Pizzurro
Mr. Pizzurro distributed an updated report of the detailed survey of current cabling and
communications room connections for information technology. Mr. Duffy reported that
there are sufficient funds in the $665,952 capital component of funds allocated for the
College General Technology Plan to complete the infrastructure. It appears that some
funds will also be available to upgrade electrical service in quality and number of available
circuits to accommodate the new equipment. Based on the data from the suvery, it
appears that it will be more cost effective to complete the college network infrastructure
using Token Ring than to switch to Ethernet because of the excess Token Ring capacity
that already exists in the Communication Rooms.
Current plans are for ATM to be installed on the campuses between November 4 - 8. Mr.
Pizzurro reported that Token Ring will accommodate the new ATM entwork and it is
expected that we will have ATM to the desktop within two years. Therefore, there does
not appear to be any advantage to either beginning to use Ethernet or converting to
Ethernet at this time.
The committee formally approved the following motion:
The college will complete its network with Token Ring and plans to covert to
ATM at the desktop within two years.
The campuses will identify where they want addition cable drops for completion of the
network infrastructure, and designate priorities for Spring semester classes, by marking
them on floor plan drawings. The deadline for the sending the floorplans to Mr. Pizzurro
is Monday, October 28. These will form the basis of contracts for completing the cable
runs. Cabling will proceed on a college-wide basis through outside contractors as quickly
as possible. It will be necessary for each campus to appoint a liaison to assist during the
cabling process. Mr. Pizzurro will report to the Committee at the next meeting with a list
of the Sping priority requests and a timetable for the cable process.
b. Project budget allocation - Mr. Duffy
The technology funds allocated for the College General Technology Plan are initially
being allocated into four categories:
Capital $ 665,952
Salaries for new positions $ 200,000 (6 months)
Training $ 400,000
Equipment $2,200,000
(Equipment funds also pay for the VTEL units that are part of the VCCS
compressed video network and servers needed to complete the local area
network.)
Mr. Duffy and Dr. Sachs presented a set of Guiding Principles for allocating computers
under the College General Technology Plan. The Operations and Applications
Technology Committee will need to identify specific standards for new and upgraded
computers, including Tier 1 and Tier 2 computers, before computers can be ordered. Mr.
Pizzurro and Dr. Sachs will propose draft standards to the OATC. The standards should
include set-up, warranty and network cards.
The Committee approved the Guiding Principle Items 1-6, but put Item 7 dealing with
moving existing 486 computers among campuses pending a review of the actual
distribution of new computers.
c. New positions job descriptions - Dr. Sachs
Draft position descriptions for the new technical and generalist positions were distributed
and discussed. Dr. Butler requested that Annandale be allowed to hire one of its technical
positions as a Computer Network Support Technician Senior (Grade 10) to allow for
supervisiory responisbilities. The Committee approved this request. Plans are for a single
ad that will include all positions. Within the parameters of the basis position desription,
each campus can tailor a specific job description for each of its positions. These job
descriptions will need to be coordinated among units where the position is shared. Dr.
Sachs will work with the campuses and Human Resources to develop the advertising for
early November. A question was raised about providing financial support for the campus
technical staff. The Committee did not reach a consensus on this issue.
d. Communications within the college - Dr. Emory
It was recommended by this subcommittee that each campus organize a campus forum and
invite all faculty and staff. The forum should deal with the College General Technology
Plan, where the college is now and what actions are taking place. Additional meetings can
be scheduled as needed. In addition, it was recommended that there be periodic articles in
INTERCOM and that minutes of the meetings appear on the campus web by being linked
to the College home page.
2. Report from the College Operations and Applications Technology Committee
A subcommittee has been assigned to review selection of an office software suite.
Another subcommittee has been assigned to review internet access and a college-wide e-
mail strategy. Both subcommittees will report to the full OATC at its next meeting on
November 19. Initially, the OATC was going to consider whether Windows NT was a
better college-wide desktop operating system than the current choice of Windows95;
however, based on technical considerations, the ITC confirmed that the college will not
use Windows NT at the desktop.
3. Purchase Reimbursements
Mr. Duffy indicated that campuses should not currently be spending money on technology
purchases with the expectation they will be reimbursed from the college's technology
funds.
4. General Technology Plan Timetable
Dr. Sachs reported on where the college stood in terms of the critical dates identified in
the General Technology Plan. All the current projects are currently on target:
Infrastructure Project Steps 1-6 with connectivity details finalized due by November 11;
PC Roll-out Project Steps 62-67 with the determination of assignment of PCs and types of
PCs to individual units on campus due by November 25; Network Server Set-up Project
Steps 186-190 with the first draft of server allocations due by November 26; and the
Training Project curriculum development activity not due until the first quarter of 1997.
5. Other Items
A question was raised concerning student access to disk drives in on-campus student
computers so they could download files instead of having to print them. It was suggested
the matter be taken up with the Campus Instructional Technology Group to attempt a
solution. If no solution is worked out, it should be referred to the Operations and
Applications Technology Committee.
6. Summary of Pending Items
a. Location of wiring drops from campuses to CIS by October 28.
b. Campus to appoint liaisons to assist with communication during wiring
c. Report on cabling timetable and Spring priorities - Mr. Pizzurro
d. Allocation plan for new and upgraded computers - Mr. Duffy
e. Ad for new positions - Dr. Sachs
f. Campus Forums for all faculty and staff on the technology plan - Campuses
g. Selection of Office Suite and e-mail/internet strategy - OATC
h. Identification of computer standards - OATC
7. Summary of Items for Future Meetings
a. Computer repair outsourcing
b. SIS
8. Next meeting
After discussion of various individual's schedules, the next meeting of the Instructional
Technology Committee is scheduled for Friday, November 22, 9:30 am in the Brault
Building.
cc: Members
OATC Members
Dr. Ernst
Notes prepared by:
Steven G. Sachs
Associate Dean for Information Technology
Acting Committee Chair:
George Duffy
Acting Dean of Financial and Admin. Services
Attachments:
Infrastructure Survey Results
Budget Allocation Guiding Principles
Draft Position Descriptions
COLLEGE INFRASTRUCTURE SURVEY
October 1996
"Drops" are existing wall connections for voice and data; "Ports" are connections in
Building Communication Rooms; "In use"
means ports that are currently connected to drops (making wall connections available for
use).
ALEXANDRIA
Total Drops = 341
Total Ports = 180 In use = 88
Classrooms = 55 Wired = 0
Offices = 50 Wired = 50
Labs = 17 Wired = 2
LOUDOUN
Total Drops = 282
Total Ports = 140 In use = 81
Classrooms = 16 Wired = 1
Offices = 78 Wired = 74
Labs = 8 Wired = 2
MANASSAS
Total Drops = 505
Total Ports = 320 In use = 36
Classrooms = 40 Wired = 17
Offices = 46 Wired = 45
Labs = 7 Wired = 1
WOODBRIDGE
Total Drops = 259
Total Ports = 180 In use = 49
Classrooms = 46 Wired = 0
Offices = 98 Wired = 98
Labs = 17 Wired = 1
ANNANDALE
minus CT Bldg.
Total Drops = 564
Total Ports = 208 In use = 102
Classrooms = 66 Wired = 0
Offices = 210 Wired = 187
Labs = 11 Wired = 2
College General Technology Plan
Computer Allocation Model
(By the end of Year 2)
Guiding Principles
1. Students have access to the best computers.
2. Student allocations will be based on FTESs from campus averages for Fall 95 and
Spring 96 semesters.
3. All computers assigned to faculty and staff desks or student labs will be fully featured
with CD ROM, sound cards, large hard drives, capable of running Windows 95 and being
connected to the network.
4. All 486 and Pentium computers currently owned will be upgraded to meet minimum
standards.
5. All computers less than 486s should be replaced and discarded (and will not be
supported).
6. At least 50% of a campus's allocated computers should be pentiums.
7. (Approval on hold pending final computer distribution plan) While complete fairness
may not be possible, campuses that invested heavily in 486 computers over the past
several years should not be penalized by giving the majority of new computers to those
campuses that made smaller investments (which may require movement of 486s).
Approved all by item 7 by Information Technology Committee
October 18, 1996
AGENCY MANAGEMENT ANALYST
(Computer Information Resource Associate)
35% Provides technical advice and service to campus personnel in a manner appropriate
to the user's knowledge level. Installs, modifies, and repairs computer hardware and
software. Installs local-area networks (LANs) and connects devices and software. Installs
peripheral components such as monitors, keyboards, printers, tape and disk drives, and
performs equipment and line testing. Diagnoses technical problems and troubleshoots
problems with electronics and other components.
25% Assists with support for campus computer-related projects (including researching
of specifications, planning of systems and services, integration of technology into
instructional programs, and translating technical information into forms suitable for other
project participants). Confers with counterparts to help coordinate inter-campus
undertakings.
20% Develops and provides on-site computer information systems training and
applications support at a variety of technical levels to campus faculty, staff, and
administrators. Gives individualized and group in-service instruction on mainframe,
microcomputer, and local area network systems and applications. Prepares and maintains
educational/reference materials, including technical documentation, user manuals, self-
help, and training aids. Confers with campus management and CIS technical staff to
assess and deliver training needed to implement and support new information system
features and applications and specialized computer-related projects.
10% Serves as a technical liaison between the campus and the Computing and
Information Systems office, assisting with resolution of computer/information system-
related problems, testing/implementation of new systems and upgrades, systems
development, and network capacity planning, needs assessment, and user satisfaction
surveys.
5% Evaluates vendor products to ensure that they meet purchasing specifications.
5% Pursues a course of professional development to update and increase skills and
knowledge in technical areas to be supported.
_____
100%
Instructional Technologist
(Information Technology Generalist)
Functions and Duties:
Assisting faculty and staff in developing and producing applications that take advantage of
modern information technology.
Assisting faculty and staff in the use of microcomputers, use of new office systems and
instructional applications of information technology..
Providing leadership in information technology to other faculty and staff.
Evaluating business practices and working with staff to apply modern technology.
Evaluating courses and working with faculty to apply modern technology.
Assisting the Associate Dean for Information Technology as a member of the management
team giving guidance and support to the future development of technology use at the
college.
Serving on internal and college-wide committees.
Preparing faculty and staff to use technology through workshops and individual
consultations.
Developing strategies for assisting students in their adaptation to the specialized needs of
technology.
Identifying barriers to technology use and developing strategies to overcome those
barriers.
Communicating and coordinating with personnel at NVCC=s five campuses, ELI, and
college staff to assure that students are provided necessary learning resources and that
faculty and staff are aware of available technology.
Information Technology Committee
October 18, 1996
This page maintained by Steven G. Sachs, Associate Dean for Information Technology