McNeese State University

Call to Order
TJ Moore called the meeting to order at 3:03pm.
Members present were TJ Moore, Clayton Moreau, Tim Rye, Shayla Prince, Dr. George Mead, Dennis Stutes and Mike Graham.
Others present were Bobby McLean, Chad Thibodeaux and Brenda Gallow.
Members absent were Kyle Anderson, Kevin Goode and Dr. Todd Furman.

Minutes
Tim Rye motioned to approve the 03Apr09 minutes. Clay Moreau seconded.
The committee voted to approve and motion carriers.

CITO Update
Mike Graham reported the university is looking at a 15% budget reduction from the state equating to somewhere in excess of 6 million dollars and this is what the budget will be based upon. Mike said presently, we are still projecting that we should stay relatively whole thru everything that is frozen, namely a lot of equipment and services, while services to students still being the top priority. The following year we are looking at a standstill budget meaning we will not go backwards anymore than that.

Mike stated he is trying to purchase the Oracle license thru Oracle. Currently, we have been leasing the software thru SCT. He said he can purchase the oracle software this year for approx. $145,000 but cannot afford to fund both Blackboard and Oracle. Therefore, Mike is asking the TASC committee to fund Blackboard for $51,900.00 this year. Mike explained as a cost comparison, he pays $95,000 annually to SCT which escalates by 5%. Next year, Mike said he will pay $80,000 to Oracle and this is a cost savings over the course of the years to come. So he will need to spend a little more this year to actually purchase the license. Also, Mike stated for the past 3 years TASC has agreed to pick up the maintenance on the non-essential banner stuff (the portal, the licensing for the email system; the stuff that is not the core). Right now the university spends approx. $200,000 to $225,000 a year for the core stuff that actually does the grades and does all the work. In the past, the agreement was that TASC would pick up the maintenance on the stuff that is more of the ‘above and beyond’. Last year the cost for portal maintenance was $76,000, but with the 5% escalation the cost is now $79,800. Mike said he is requesting TASC fund the Blackboard and portal maintenance for this year. He requested the committee make a decision no later than the second to last or the last meeting. Dr. Mead asked Mike if he is familiar with Live Text and since the students are paying for it he wondered what Live Text can do that Blackboard and Oracle won’t do. Mike responded he is familiar with Live Text, but since he did not purchase it, he cannot answer any questions about it but thinks they are using it more for accreditation.

Mike offered for discussion a few ‘Big Ticket’ ideas; namely the Polaris Project (handout provided), the Anatomy and Physiology Laboratory Data Recording and Analysis Systems (handout provided at last meeting) and the SFA Upgrade (handout provided).

Polaris Project ($90,000.00) is submitted by Dr. Kirtisis. Mike explained last year the TASC committee funded $131,000 for a working model of a plant. It would be a functioning, operational indoor model but not in a real world environment. The Polaris Project (created by Tulane University) is a whole functioning system that does exist in the real world. Dr. Kirtisis is looking to purchase the Polaris Project instead of what he was initially going to do. If the committee says no to this request, then Dr. Kirtisis will go back to what was originally approved for funding. Mike explained the advantage to this is the people in the engineering partnership (Industry Alliance) that Dr. Kirtisis brings in to advise him says this is a much better approach of a working model than the indoor model. Dennis Stutes added that Polaris Engineering is a major hiring source of local engineers that graduate from McNeese and this is a local company based out of Lake Charles. Dr. Mead asked if the Polaris Project could be funded from the stimulus money. Mike thinks Dr. Kirtisis would probably try for it and he will suggest Dr. Kirtisis talk to Janet Woolman about it and report back. The committee decided to wait until the next meeting before making a decision.

Anatomy & Physiology Laboratory Data Recording & Analysis Systems ($40,141.00)
The committee will review at the next meeting.

SFA 121 Upgrade ($27,402.00) Clay Moreau asked the committee to review for approval the SFA 121 Upgrade. The committee discussed and afterwards Clay Moreau motioned to approve $27,402.00 for SFA 121 Upgrade for Imacs and software. Dr. Mead seconded. After a short discussion, the committee voted to approve and motion carries.

New Business
International Student Office & Welcome Center ($4,260.00)
Tim Rye moved to accept for review the International Student Office & Welcome Center proposal even though it was submitted late. Dennis Stutes seconded. The committee voted to approve and motion carries.

The committee discussed. Mike Graham suggested the committee makes sure ISA is aware that paper and toner will not be supplied by TASC. Clay Moreau motioned to approve the International Student Office & Welcome Center proposal for $4,260.00. Shayla Prince seconded. The committee voted to approve and motion carries.

Old Business
The following TASC proposals were discussed…

Col-of-Engineering ($50,425.00)
The committee had a brief discussion concerning the Col-of-Engineering request. Shayla Prince motioned to approve the Col-of-Engineering proposal for $50,425.00. Clay Moreau seconded. After a bit more discussion, the committee voted to approve and motion carries.

Other Department: ($14,367.58)
Library…
Public Access- ($14,773.00) 9 Macs and 1 network printer ---Bobby McLean spoke to Mary Jane Bloomquist who confirmed the request is for general purpose pc use and agreed to the idea of setting up an LTSP …Bobby is still working on numbers for the request and will bring for committee review at the next meeting. He thinks the cost savings will be significant.

Student Union Board… ($14,367.58) Technology advancement meeting rooms/common areas
The committee discussed the remaining two phases of SUB’s proposal at the requested funding of Phase II @ $14,367.58 and Phase III @ $11,003.14. Tim Rye motioned to approve Phase II for $14,367.58 of the Student Union Board proposal. (Funding includes the remaining $5,740 from the $50,000 allotted to Other Departments plus $8,627.58 of new funding.) Clay Moreau seconded. The committee voted to approve and motion carries.

Phase III for $11,003.14 is tabled. The committee decided SUB can resubmit proposal on
Phase III with the new TASC committee.

Tim Rye asked Bobby about the cameras for Holbrook. Bobby said he contacted a company called Sonotrol about the security system and they have agreed to come by onsite and do an assessment and submit a quote. Mike said if we do not have the information for the last meeting, he will place on the agenda for next year’s committee with an explanation that the information was a priority for this committee but did not make it in time for review.

CoTASCO Update
Bobby McLean reported installing 2 new HP printers in Holbrook and the go-print system is working great. Bobby is planning to have some carpentry work done to put dividers between the table and printers. Bobby also said the printers in Holbrook will be set for duplex only (but can be reset if necessary) and the printer in the Library TASC Lab will not be set as duplex only.

Next meeting is scheduled for Friday, 5/08/09 at 1:00pm at Gattis.

Adjournment
Shayla Prince motioned to adjourn meeting and Tim Rye seconded. The committee voted to approve and meeting was adjourned at 3:58pm.

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