Technology Committee

 

Meeting Minutes

Columbia College

September 24, 2009

 

 

Attending:  Gary Mendenhall, Brian DeMoss, Melissa Colon, Marnie Shively, Karin Rodts, Nathan Rien, Donald Smith, Robert Gritz, Susan Vegter-Slape, Wendy Link

 

Absent:  Mike Torok, Melissa Raby, Michael Perez, Brian Greene, Connie Mical, Craig Johnston, Ida Ponder, Kelley K.C. Marshall, ASCCC President

 

 

1.       Standing Reports:

  1. Web – Brian DeMoss

·         Web Hosting – President Joan Smith has directed that any website promoting a function at Columbia College (e.g. High Sierra Institute, Career Tools, etc.) shall be hosted on the new CC web server. 

 

Needed Action:  Brian will revisit web hosting issue with the President and discuss how best to pursue use of ePortfolios.

 

·         New Web Launch- New launch will be effective October 31, 2009.  Faculty server is not currently available, however, site pages for faculty maintaining their own pages will be moved over to another web server on October 31, and a new faculty directory will be available for faculty who do not maintain their own site.

 

b.       Title III/Distance Education – Brian DeMoss/Melissa Colon

·         New equipment is being ordered for Juniper (specific room still being determined) and Manzanita 2.  Title III’s first fiscal year ends September 30, 2009.  A second cohort is being developed.  Blackboard Upgrade Version 9.1 was received and professional and administrative training is planned.  There are 28 faculty offering courses with each developing at least one or more courses.

 

·         Jake Beck’s assignment is 50% Technology and 50% Title III.  To take advantage of Jake’s services, requests should be submitted through Brian D. and/or Melissa.  They will determine his assignments and schedule services with him.

 

Needed Action:  Jake will be invited to the next Technology Committee meeting.

 

c.        I.T. – Brian DeMoss

·         Columbia now has ten new wireless access points and most have been installed. The ITC will be receiving their replacement access point soon.

 

Needed Action:  Install replacement access point in ITC.

 

2.       Campus Blackboard Issues – Melissa Colon

·         Better communication needs to be established between students and their contact points.  Melissa is working with Jake Beck to develop an email blast to online students.  Students having problems logging in should be directed to the Help Desk or referred to their instructors.  Some instructors are having difficulty as well using Blackboard.  IT will be contacting them to resolve problems.

 

Needed Action:  Brian will ask Ryan Brady to contact instructors regarding their Blackboard issues.

 

 

  1.  Student Email Issues – Brian DeMoss

·         There are very few student email issues.  Most of the existing issues seem to be with instructions not being followed or student logins.  Passwords can be reset by the Help Desk only. The Student Center and the AAC have been doing a very good job with assisting students in activating their email.  There is an outstanding request for a student email log in link to be placed on connectColumbia.

 

Needed Action:  Brian D. will ensure student email log in link be placed on connectColumbia.

 

  1. Trickle Down Process – Brian Demoss

·         Status of the trickle down process is at a standstill.  Many computers recently replaced are exactly the same as what most people now have available to them. Labs are now updated for the next couple of years.  Some service areas within Manzanita have also been replaced.  Historically, trickle down is based on the age of the computer, not high-end users.  Future focus will be to replace all E4100 Gateway machines across campus.  Gateway is no longer in business which means IT no longer has capability to repair or maintain the computers. 

 

Needed Action:  As funds become available, IT will continue on the path of replacing faculty and staff E4100 computers.

 

  1. EduStream Streaming Server – Melissa Colon

·         EduStream is a streaming server hosting service free from San Bernardino Community College District.   This will provide instructors with a way to use video clips (not meant for entire videos), etc., in their classes and will also be an opportunity to close caption or open caption the items on a case-by-case basis using People Soft and RapidText.  There is over $780,000 to be given to the colleges by the State Chancellor’s Office.

 

  1. Directing Students to ConnectColumbia for Latest Scheduling Updates – Robert Gritz

·         This was a reminder to direct students to connectColumbia for the most current scheduling updates.  Wendy suggested using the website as another venue when checking for schedule updates.

 

  1. Meeting Schedule – Revise to Monthly Only? – Gary Mendenhall

·         The Technology Committee will continue to meet every other week unless there is not enough need, at which time the co-chairs will cancel the meeting.  It was noted the committee will need to begin reviewing the Distance Education Plan and Technology Plan in the near future in preparation of accreditation.

 

 

NEXT TENTATIVE MEETING DATE:  Thursday, October 8, 2009