DCS Advisory Group
Meeting Summary
12/15/98
12:00 - 1:30
ITC Forestry Conference Room
- DCI Update
- Improving the Effectiveness of Assessments and
Evaluations
- Training Issues
- Other Issues
- Next Meeting
1. DCI Update
- 8 machines will be offered.
- Many unresolved issues:
- financing (2 yr. or 3 yr.)
- Initial roll-out in July 1999 (no longer called a "pilot")
with 2nd wave in mid-October 1999
- Plan for software upgrades via pull technology.
- Peripherals are being looked at.
- Unattended loads from a central server may come later.
- Timing of implementations is important - for some areas,
mid-semester will be good, for others, the summer will be
best.
2. How can DCS help departments without LSPs come
up with a proposal for participation in DCI?
Ideas
- Create checklist for each machine to be replaced (e.g., what
peripherals are attached, what legacy software is
installed?).
- Create checklist for each department, in general, then DCS
will do an assessment - (e.g., do they need laptops, NT
servers?).
- Help departments figure out who in department gets high- vs.
low-end machines.
- Should departments be required to have an ITC assessment
before participating in DCI? This may not work for some
departments, like Darden, who already have technology plans.
- Should the DCS Advisory Group propose that DCI proposals state
how DCI will be implemented and supported and should technology
plans be part of the proposals? Forcing proposals may cut off some
departments that can't do the proposals but they are the ones that
can most benefit from DCI. Proposals shouldn't exclude
people.
- VP/Provost may ask ITC to assess certain areas -- either pre-
or post-proposal.
- It is important for departments to engage in technology
planning before purchasing computers.
- Some areas will need a great deal of training. A checklist
could be developed to help assess training needs.
- Can assessments be part of the RFP - can that be part of the
services offered? Probably - since the RFP is a
"partnership."
3. Training issues
- When do you cut off Windows 98 training and go to 2000
training?
- Many people are staying with Win 95 and will go to Win 2000
rather than going to Win 98 and then to Win 2000. ATG is
looking at Win 2000.
- ITC Classrooms - will they be refurbished in time for DCI?
- ITC training labs will be equipped with DCI machines and
will be part of the roll-out. We can't upgrade all the labs and
classrooms at once. ITC training classrooms need to be part of
initial roll-out because of the DCI training needs.
- Terry anticipates that very few changes will be made to ITC
classrooms and labs this summer because of impending DCI
roll-out.
- ITC should begin ramping up for 2000 training.
4. Other issues
- Will Access be part of Office 2000?
- Perhaps we need to get Microsoft rep in for a non-disclosure
meeting.
- Disaster recovery should be part of technology plans and DCI
proposals.
- ITC needs to publicize that the initial roll-out of DCI could
be rocky as we work out the bugs.
- If you have ideas for projects that ITC should undertake in
the next budget year, send those to Terry.
5. Next meeting:
- Wednesday, January 27
- 12:00 - 1:30
- ITC Forestry Conference Room
- ITC budget proposals
- DCS Advisory Group endorsements for DCI
In attendance: Randy Smith, LaVahn Hoh, Sue Ellen Breeden, David
Phillips, Aron Teel, Bill Woolfolk, Dave Drucker, Terry Lockard,
James Potter, Nancy Hopkins
