Strategic Planning Steering Committee

Minutes for Academic IT Strategic Planning Group

Wednesday, April 24, 2002

2:30-4:00 p.m. Room 222

Present: John Saverese, Edutech International (for OIT); Jennifer Younger, Gay Dannelly, Laura Fuderer, Diane Gram, Parker Ladwig, Dan Marmion, Eric Morgan, Sandy Stellema, Marsha Stevenson, Cameron Tuai, Scott Van Jacob

John Savarese, a consultant for Edutech International, introduced himself. His firm is conducting on-campus interviews for OIT and is helping them with their strategic planning. One of the things OIT is trying to sort out is providing distributed support rather than centralized support. They are also looking at issues involving research and instruction, hardware and software support, networking (both within ND and outside ND), classroom and cluster support, course management (e.g., WebCT), distance learning, wireless networking, and cable and video television. He explained that OIT is sending liaisons to contact each academic unit looking for opportunities and priorities.

To start the discussion, he asked about the library's relationship to OIT

GD--At Ohio State University, the IT unit on campus thought that the library drove the network. ND OIT needs to make connection speed a priority.

MS--The library would like to provide support for new media. It would be helpful to know what OIT can do so the library doesn't have to think about everything. A good example of this type of support is the library's recent involvement with ArtSTOR. Mike Ball is representing OIT for this project. OIT can also help the library think about wireless networking as Hesburgh Library is renovated.

SS--The type of support OIT should provide could be modeled on the library's Desktop Computing and Network Services (DCNS) Dept. DCNS works hard to provide a standard staff workstation with very few exceptions. DCNS also uses a group of Dept. Computing Consultants (DCCs) to work with the various units within the library and their specific problems.

PL--It would be helpful if OIT worked even more closely with the library. During a recent library move, there were several confusing situations and a lack of communication for the wireless networking project. Better interaction with the library could have prevented many of these problems.

CT--What exactly is a distributed model?

JS--A distributed model maintains central support without being centralized. It uses a CIO model where he or she is broadly involved in all areas on campus affecting the IT support provided. It also provides local support through a network of liaisons.

CT--OIT also needs to address domains of knowledge so opportunities can be properly assessed. For example, is a Media Lab an opportunity for the library or OIT? Who should support it? In what areas do OIT and the library's Information Systems and Digital Access Division (ISDA) overlap?

MS--Has the recent OIT reorganization helped identify these domains of knowledge?

DM--Within ISDA, the Systems Dept. works in areas supporting the library management system, Aleph, that OIT does not and probably should not cover. DCNS, however, works side-by-side with OIT in areas of computer services and networking, but it does not provide support to platforms other than PCs.

PL--Who should provide support, for example, for software like TeX [a mathematics/science/engineering shareware text editor]?

GD--Though TeX support looks like an issue for a small group of users, this is an example where further investigation might discover a need for campus-wide support.

SVJ--How does OIT decide which software and hardware will be supported?

DM--For example, with TeX, OIT looks for economies of scale.

JS--It sounds like OIT should also consider how it manages standards.

SS--Within the library, dept. heads or supervisors must sign off on the necessity for non-standard software.

MS--Also, OIT could better manage software upgrades. Often, library services are difficult to deliver because someone has Netscape 1.0, for example. Within the library, DCNS and the DCCs upgrade each computer.

DM--The network and issues relating to it should also be carefully considered.

SS--For example, log-on scripts, and hubs, piping and wiring all need to be addressed.

SS--What are the OIT's plans for when the repair center closes? It seems like this will be much more expensive and inconvenient.

MS--OIT needs to provide better after hours support, not just 8 am - 5 pm, Monday through Friday. When the OIT help desk is closed, the reference desk often serves as the first line of defense. The reference staff should know who to call for various problems. What about support for the Kaneb Center, WebCT, and E-Project? What about support for various platforms for wireless networking?

SVJ--Will OIT provide more modem pools or support for DSL? More importantly, what are the OIT's plans for digital preservation (which is more than just archiving)? OIT should work closely with the library on preservation standards for projects like ND's Electronic Theses and Dissertations (ETD)?

John Savarese concluded by letting the SPSC know that he would share the results of our meeting with OIT. Dan Marmion and several others from ISDA would meet with another of the Edutech consultants on April 26.