2012-13 Council on Libraries, Information Systems and Computing
(LISC)
Minutes
October 9, 2012
3:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
AS-122
Attendance: Elizabeth Gaffney, Chair; Larry Raffalovich; Christine Haile; Abebe
Rorissa; Kimberly Van Orman (for Bill Roberson); Jean Guyon; Evgeny Dikarev; John
Delano; Eliot Rich; Debra Dickerson
1. Report from the Chair: Elizabeth Gaffney
The April 2° and 30" LISC minutes will be sent under separate cover to the
2011-12 Council and asked to send their motion to approve via email to
Elizabeth.
Elizabeth opened up the meeting with a pending item from last 2011-2012, the
Responsible Use Policy. Elizabeth asked whether a separate meeting had taken
place between John Reilly and the IT Committee to discuss the spirit and intent
of this portion of the policy, as well as concerns regarding the privacy and the
monitoring of content. In addition, whether or not the policy was the
responsibility of LISC or not. This meeting did take place and Counsel's opinion
was to say that the governance text in the policy was not necessary. Larry
Raffalovich stated that there were differences in interpreting the language.
Elizabeth asked whether we should refer this policy back to the IT Committee or
finalize with the whole LISC Committee. It was agreed that the policy did not
have to go back to the IT Committee. Elizabeth asked Chris Haile if she would
email the most recent version of Responsible Use to Elizabeth so it she could
send it out to the Committee members so it could be discussed at the next
meeting.
2. Report from the Chief Information Officer - Christine Haile
Chris reported on the groundbreaking of the new Data Center located at Service
Building C. The completion date is scheduled for 2014. We are expected to
move in sometime in the summer of 2014. Chris offered to have someone come
to a LISC meeting to give a briefing on the new Data Center if the members were
interested.
The Office of the CIO is completing a final report on the 2009-2012 Strategic Plan
and copies will be distributed at the next LISC meeting. Chris is also preparing a
briefing book on IT for the newly elected President.
Chris is a member of the Chancellor’s shared services initiative. The committee
is in the initial state of bouncing ideas off each other and is in consultation with
HVCC regarding the sharing of services.
The current IT budget is flat. There is demand for new projects and associated
cost increases for contracts we currently hold. We have a number of new
applications and infrastructure investments at the same time. We are at our
typical refresh cycle for network and classroom renovations.
Blackboard mobile is accessible to small screens; mobile app is free for all
devices until May 2013; after that, there will be a charge for the service. SUNY is
considering how best to contract for these services. The options $17,000/year
for a site license, or students could purchase the app for less than $5. These
options will need to be revisited as the time nears. Utilization statistics implies
that there is a lot of usage of this app. Chris will bring statistics to LISC with
more information on the usage at UAlbany.
The campus has invested in 100% fixed technology with a one-time money and
cycle associated with it. Requests for more and better technology in the
classrooms, as well as replacement of technology will add up to a lot of money,
which is currently unfunded. Chris offered to report on the classroom
opportunities at future LISC meeting if the Committee concurs.
A question arose as to how one would ask for technological assistance; Chris
advised to fill out a Service Desk ticket. That way, even if one did not know
where to go with his/her problem, the Service Desk would forward to the correct
department for solution.
. Report from the Dean of Libraries - Mary Casserly
No report available; Mary was absent from the meeting.
. Announcements and New Business
Elizabeth asked that the members get back to her via email on their preference
for serving on the IT or Library Sub-committees.
Larry Raffalovich commented on his concern with embedded links in emails. The
link could lead to someone who is trying to get in one’s system. Larry would like
to see the absence of embedded links in all University correspondence and
asked if this is something LISC would want to review as a Council. Chris offered
to have Marty Manjak, ISO, speak at the November 6" LISC meeting regarding
embedded links.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 4:00 p.m.
