University of Minnesota

Institute of Technology

Minutes of ITICC Meeting

February 18, 1999

3:30 p.m., 131 Physics

Present: Belik (Math), Carlson (ADCS), Chase (ME), Eichman (AEM), Gao (Geol), Garrett (Math), Hudleston (IT Stud Aff), Larson (ADCS), LeMay (ITTC), Li (ECE), MacDonald (CSE&IT), MacEwan (Chem), Martimbeau (Phys), Moshier (CSE),

Shield (AEM), Uzpen (ITSB)

1) General Status reports

Reports from CSci and ADCS were covered under the second agenda item. Martimbeau presented a report on the status of lower division computing in Physics. Three LabVIEW programs (VideoTOOL, HallPROBE and FaradayPROBE) have been ported from the Mac to the PC and are currently being tested and honed. These programs are currently used on Macs in Phys 1251, 1252 and 1253 and the honors sequence. The Macs will be replaced by PCs next year. MacEwan said that equipment had been purchased to test in spring quarter the first use of lab software being developed by Chemistry. This will be in Honors Chemistry.

2) Lab Hours Survey Results

Hudleston sent out an e-mail survey to all IT undergraduates in January. The survey asked students to report delays on getting on computers, and to comment otherwise on lab operations. About 180 responses were received, nearly all of them reporting queues to get on a computer. Hudleston handed out a sheet summarizing the results of the survey: a chart showing the numbers of students experiencing delays and a list of the most frequently reported problems. He explained that he had asked the ITIC Technical Committee to review the list and suggest solutions to the technical problems raised (the Tech Committee had met the previous week to do this).

The results show that SGIs and Suns are in most demand, with waits in both ME 308 and EECS 4-204 most frequently reported A typical wait time was 30 minutes, with most students reporting having to wait on several lab visits at various times of the day and week, especially in the second half of the quarter. The PCs in ME 308 and EECS 3-170 saw fewer queues, and the Macs in EECS 3-170 and CE 230 the least. There were frequent queues for the Macs in Phys 130 when students in the Physics courses took quizzes.

This list of other problems and possible solutions to them were discussed.

Down machines - MacDonald said that he had already acted on this and asked staff to be more aggressive in getting down machines back up. This includes active follow-up on Repair Services, who sometimes took weeks or months to fix machines. Also, the option of keeping retired machines as ‘hot spares’ is being considered. The goal is to reduce the number of down machines.

Password problems - A small number of students reported repeated problems with getting accounts initialized or reinitialized. MacDonald said this problem had been fixed.

Students locking machines and leaving the lab - The solution to this is being put in place. An autologout feature will be installed that unlocks the machines after a set amount of time - say 20 minutes - if unattended.

Students surfing the web, playing games - A problem when the lab is full. Lab consultants have been told to pay more attention to this and intervene if problems develop. Lab users should bring problems to the attention of consultants.

Attendants not responsive - Consultants are expected to be alert and respond to users’ concerns and users are expected to be forward in seeking consultants’ help.

Labs not opening on time - Larson said he reminds consultants frequently, and he cannot check all the labs at opening time himself. Back-up plans are needed and follow-up when problems arise.

Different classes with projects due at the same time - Instructors are asked to consider staggering project due dates to ease lab congestion. It was suggested that two ME courses in the fall may have had similar due dates. Chase said he would look into the issue in ME and see what could be done.

ProE license problem - The number of licenses has been increased from 100 to 200, and the problem of licenses not being released has been solved by using a chron job to flush out unused licenses.

Printing charges - A few people complained about printing charges on top of a large fee. As discussed in previous years, there are reasons for keeping the rate the same in IT and non-IT labs. IT students do get a benefit of duplex printing at single page rates.

Overall, Hudleston agreed with MacDonald that the survey results indicate that service is good. Only about 5% of users reported problems during the fall. Hudleston reminded the committee that students were only invited to respond if they encountered problems - there was no ‘everything is OK’ check-off box.

3) New Computer Classroom/Lab (Lind 24)

Hudleston reported that central administration has approved the use of Lind 24 for an IT computer classroom/laboratory. This followed discussion of trying to relocate temporarily the ADCS lab in Walter Library during remodeling of that building. Lind 24 was considered, but is too small. It seems space has been found in Nicholson Hall for this lab. Funds for renovating Lind 24 as an IT facility will have to come from ITICC. Hudleston said that ITICC had approved funding for two computer classrooms last year, one for general use proposed as part of ‘upper division’ lab improvements and one with priority use for Math, supported by ‘lower division’ funds. There is only a possibility of setting up one facility, and funding from both sources can be used. Math will have priority use of Lind 24 during the day, and it will be used as a computer lab outside classroom hours. Coordination of Lind 24 and Lind 26 should be possible, and their close proximity will allow more machines to be made available during night hours.

Garret raised the issue of operating systems. Math uses Linux on its computers in the Calculus Initiative and would like this OS on the new machines. Does this pose a problem? MacDonald said as far as he was concerned installing Linux would be the preferred solution.

Hudleston said he would ask Larson, MacDonald and Garret to meet to develop plans for Lind 24. We should be able to build on initial planning done by Larson and Facilities Management. The lab should be ready by the fall.

4) Other Business

None