ETC Edison Technology Committee
Strategic Planning for Learning Through Technology

Draft of minutes of meeting held
February 2, 2001

1. The meeting was convened at 8:30 a.m.  Patti Ross, Brad Reed, Becky Telford, Mona Walters, Harry Lawhorn, Dennis Myers, Carol Rigola, Sandy Brubaker, Mary Beth Aust-Keefer, Betsy Kondall, Sharon Brown, Dr. David Myers, Dr. Jesse Parete, and Carol Marion were present. Carol Gudorf and Janet Cook also attended on behalf of Dr. Parete during periods when he was meeting classes.

2. The committee reviewed the draft of the minutes from the November meeting and approved the same. The proposed agenda was reviewed and approved.

3. The committee discussed at length 2 strategic initiative proposals.

Proposal #1 from Brad Reed: implement a wireless computing strategy for the college. Unanimous approval was voted by the members for this initiative. It is viewed as a twofold plan. The first element of the plan is to provide extension of the college's network via wireless connecting points in common student areas. The second element is to include wireless computing into the classroom environment via mobile labs and instructor laptop computing. The committee agreed that the college needs to become proactive in providing channels for computing hardware and software for both students and employees. It was agreed that this need will be explored on a parallel basis with the wireless deployment. Brad will provide an expanded strategy paper to be forwarded on to the Strategic Planning Committee for approval. He may call upon other committee members as resources in creating the strategy. Dennis Myers will take this forward to the Executive Council and Dr. Yowell.

Proposal #2 from Brad Reed: implement an eDocument strategy.   Unanimous approval was voted by the members for this initiative. This strategy can be implemented on an immediate basis since several copies of the software required to create Portable Document Format files are currently owned by the college. It was agreed that common shared forms and documents will be created in the PDF format and made available via the college's servers. Training and software needs will be determined and provided by ITS as this initiative is made pervasive throughout the college. This initiative is not viewed as requiring the approval of the Strategic Planning Committee. Dennis Myers will take this forward to the Executive Council and Dr. Yowell.

Mary Beth Aust-Keefer and Dennis Myers agreed that a third potential initiative, streaming media, was being considered within the Regional Learning Network grant as a logical extension of the video conferencing mandated by the grant.

4. The committee reviewed the Strategic Plan from March 2000 and was updated on progress against the plan.

Virtually all elements of the March 2000 plan have moved forward and/or have been advanced by the implementation of Datatel, the creation of the ITS organization, and installation of facilities for the Regional Learning Network grant activity.

It was agreed that Dennis Myers would update this plan with the inclusion of the 2 approved initiatives and the removal of tactical items from the March 2000 paper. This update will be reviewed at the next committee meeting.

5. The committee discussed Dr. Myers' concern that the college needs to do more to communicate changes and to educate its faculty and staff on technology issues. The consensus view was that communication will increase through the implementation of the CQI process and that ITS will increase the provision of education related to technology as we move forward with current plans.

6. The committee agreed to meet again on March 16, 2001, at 9 a.m.

7. The meeting adjourned at 12 p.m.