TASC MEETING
Minutes
February 23, 2007

Call to Order
Mike Duff called the meeting to order at 3:30pm. Members present were T.J. Moore, Patrick Eustis, Ashley Berken, Dr. Todd Furman, Michael Graham and Michael Duff.
Members absent were Marcus Stein, Janet Woolman, Dr. Wayne Fetter and Chad Thibodeaux.
Others in attendance were James McDonald, Joshus “Kujo” Stewart, Shannon Davis, and Brenda Gallow.

Minutes
Michael Graham corrected the spelling of MUTL (incorrect) to Moodle.
Michael Duff accepted the amended minutes by acclamation.

Old Business
Dr. Fetter gave an update on the Promethian Active Equipment. He said the equipment has been installed in 9-classrooms in Farrar and a second floor lab which belongs to Ed Tech. The equipment is active and the cabinets were custom made by maintenance for storage of the equipment. Dr. Fetter said, we are getting 5-more classrooms done thru Riverboat funds and at the end of this semester we will have 15 rooms outfitted with Promethian Active Equipment. It is our view that next year a portion of the TASC Proposal will be to outfit some additional classrooms and buy some support type equipment such as active tablets that faculty members can carry with them to create programs as well as more of the active vote systems, and a number of other things. We had about 11 or 12 faculty members last Thursday spend all day at the Calcasieu Tech Center training. Regina Sermon, who is here today, made a presentation to a Promethian Users Group Conference in Houston back in January. We sent a couple of people with Promethian’s invite to England back in the fall to get some information and we have some additional types of training materials and opportunities as far as some things that were given to us as well as a couple of Promethian websites to use. Dr. Fetter stated, we are working now on training faculty and it is our intent to train as many faculty members as possible. We had a couple people from College of Liberal Arts show interest, and one was able to attend training on Thursday, so you will see interest in other places other than just in the College of Education. Dr. Fetter stated the South Area Manager of Promethian has given the faculty permission to take the software and install it anywhere, i.e. on office computers, home computers, etc., because he wants the faculty to have access to the software to create the programs that can be used in the classroom settings. Dr. Fetter stated the South Area Regional Manager was here on Thursday and said the Promethian Center for Excellence is a done deal. Dr. Fetter asked him how many of these do we have anywhere? And the answer was one-- right here. The Region 5 Tech Center, the Calcasieu Parish Schools and McNeese State University are in the only consortium of its kind anywhere in the United States. Dr. Fetter stated this is pretty impressive. He said Promethian is looking at a major presentation at NECC, which is the major computer conference for the summer of 2008, to make a major presentation on what’s happening in this area. Dr. Fetter told the TASC Committee, they have been a part of that.

Dr. Fetter introduced Regina Sermon to give a demonstration of the Promethian Boards and Activeware. Regina began by thanking the TASC Committee for helping to supply the Promethian equipment. She explained, to run a Promethian Board, there must be a projector and a computer. Additionally, a slate can also be used, which enables the instructor to walk around, operate and write on the board anywhere in the room. Regina gave a demonstration of the board and answered questions from the committee.

The TASC Committee thanked Regina Sermon for the presentation.

CITO Update
Michael Graham presented the TASC Committee with a list of 5 possible names for the Portal—1. Community Online Rapid Resource Account Login (CORRAL), 2. My McNeese, 3. Cowboy Gateway, 4. Rapid Online Web Directory for Ya’ll (ROWDY) and 5. McNeese Access. Mike said a name needs to be chosen in order to get the software installed on the servers. He asked the committee if they wanted to have the names posted on the web for voting or would they prefer to choose the name. Mike said he needs a decision within the next few weeks. Marcus Stein liked the name “My McNeese” because there is no question about what it is. The committee discussed and agreed and decided to choose “My McNeese”.

Michael Graham told the committee the Audits for 2005 and 2006 have been completed. There were no issues. There is one account to be combined which will result in another $40,000 of ‘new money’ to spend.

Mike Graham said there is a new idea presented by Marcus Stein (who has been talking to a lot of students) for a place to go and maybe pay bills, drink coffee/soda and gather. Mike agreed this is a great idea and it could be known as the TASC Internet Café. Marcus wondered if this place could be set up with PCs that are networked. Mike said there are existing plans to make “The Hitching Post” wireless and it could be done inexpensively. Marcus also asked if another Plasma TV could be added with cable connection. Mike Graham said it could be done with the new money, but Dean Osburn’s approval is needed. Mike said he would talk to Dean Osburn if the committee would give him the approval. The committee agreed. After some discussion, T.J. Moore made a motion to establish the TASC Internet Café in the Hitching Post. Motion was seconded. Patrick Eustis made a suggestion about getting with the CDC to possibly provide funding for couches and tables and maybe talk to some of the art students to do some artwork. Mike Graham said he would like to get a sign that says “TASC Internet Café”. Ashley Berken suggested having another sign that says “Wireless”. After some more discussion, the committee voted to approve and the motion carried.

Mike Graham asked the committee if they would like Dr. Darbeau to come in and present his ideas for the forensic lab at the next meeting. The committee agreed.

New Business


CoTASCO Update
Shannon Davis reported he spoke with Dr. Adrian (Dean of Business) and Dean Adrian is supposed to have a meeting with Scott Albarado/Creative Presentation about the Axis TV request on the TASC Proposal. He will also get with someone from the Dept of Education and obtain a demonstration of the Promethian Boards.

The next TASC Meeting will be on Friday, March 9, 2007 at 3:30pm in the McNeese Room.

Adjournment
Meeting was adjourned at 4:40pm.