University of Minnesota

Institute of Technology

Minutes of the ITICC Meeting,

January 29, 2004

3:35 p.m., 133 Physics

Present: John Baxter (Math), Bryan Carlson (ADCS), Tom Chase (ME), Peter Hudleston (IT Dean’s Office), Kent Kirkby (Geol), Larry LeMay (ADCS), Kent Mann (Chem), Jim MacDonald (CSE, ITLabs, staff), Dan MacEwan (Chem), Mark Nicosia (BME),

Roger Rusack (Phys), Hitoshi Sakamoto (ME), Karen Swanberg (Geol),

Anand Tripathi (CSciE), Lucas Veverka (ITSB),

1) Status reports from CSciE and ADCS

The start up the labs this semester has been smooth; there is as yet relatively light traffic. MacDonald reported that a computer worm – part of the recent spate of virus and worm attacks – had caused flooding of a router earlier in the week and that, as a consequence, a computer class had to be cancelled for one meeting.

LeMay reported that the color printer was currently not working in EECS 3-170. The printer is being fixed/cleaned. Chase inquired if it made sense to simply buy a new printer.

2) Implementation of IT Public Lab Improvements, Fall Round

Hudleston reported that the committee had approved, by e-mail vote, the proposed lab improvements presented at the meeting last November. MacDonald reported that essentially all the approved improvements had been implemented over the winter break. An exception is the final pieces of the fiber optic security system. Also, MacDonald said that at present the decision had been made not to proceed with purchase of the dual-processor terminal server. This server would have provided access off campus and from non-university machines but, because of licensing issues, most of the lab software could not be made available through this means. It does not make sense to purchase this equipment with such a limited benefit.

3) Creation of a New Computer Classroom - Discussion

Hudleston asked Chase to describe to the committee his proposal to look into creating a computer classroom (using Windows) in ME 314. Chase said that there was a need for a Windows classroom with about 35 seats in his department that could not necessarily be met with the current computers classrooms (EE/CS 2170 and 2172, with priority use by Computer Science and Lind 24, with priority use by mathematics). These other classrooms can be reserved now, on a space available basis, but the times they are reserved for CSci and Math means they are often unavailable for other classes that need lab facilities for one or two sessions.

Chase said what he envisioned was a room that would function most of the time as a regular lab, but that could be reserved by instructors for individual class periods (but not for a semester) for class demonstrations. He thought that ME 314 appeared to have the requirement he was looking for. It was the right size, and was a separate part of the large ME 308, 312, 314 complex. LeMay had looked into what configuration of computers night work and provided a possible floor plan. This would involve about 5 computers fewer in the room than at present.

MacDonald said he endorsed the idea of this classroom and had done a provisional cost estimate for a modification of the room. It would involve removing the carrels, adding new tables, adding outlets, replacing the doors (which had been removed when the large room was created), purchasing a projector and a adding a white board. He also said it made sense to replace the carpet and paint the walls at the same time. He figured a cost of about $30,000.

Hudleston said this is something the Technical Committee and ITICC should consider when making recommendations for lab improvements for FY 05.

4) Other Business

Hudleston distributed a proposed schedule for further meetings for the semester. This follows the pattern of previous years. He said it did not yet include a time for reviewing proposals for lower division computing, which will be on the docket this year.

Rusack reported that the subcommittee to review the procedures by which lower division funds are distributed had met just before this meeting. This committee will bring its recommendation to the next ITICC meeting.