CCFIT > Calendar & Minutes > 2007-08 Minutes > February 11, 2008 Minutes

Attendees: Francois Gygi (Chair), Mike Allred, Matt Bishop, Lora Jo Bossio, Rick Catalano, Tor Cross, John Berg, Caroline Bledsoe, Joe Chatham (on behalf of Rebecca Schwartz), Jeff Gibeling, Bernd Hamann, Rob Kerner, Dave Klem (ex officio), Bob Ono, Dennis Pendleton, Anna Pruitt, Kelly Ratliff, Brenda Ruth, Bob Sams, Julie Saylor, Marilyn Sharrow, Dave Shelby, Katie Stevens, Jon Wagner

Excused: Paul Gepts, Jan Ilkiw, Bill Lacy, Karen Latora

Absent: Michael Hogarth, Niels Jensen, Tom Kaiser, Bella Corbin

Special Guest: Marion Randall, Office of Administration; Michele Platten, Office of Administration; Mark Asta, Professor, Chemical Engineering & Materials Science

 
I. Welcome and approval of minutes -- Chair Francois Gygi
Chair Francois Gygi welcomed committee members and called for an approval of the Junuary minutes. Minutes were approved as submitted.  

II. Online management of position descriptions, recruitments, and applicants: PeopleAdmin Project Overview – Marion Randall and Michele Platten, Office of Administration-Human Resources
PeopleAdmin is a web-based system for position description management, application tracking and recruitment management. It is maintained by a third party application service provider located in Austin, Texas. Apart from UC Davis, UCLA, UCSB, UCSC and UCOP have entered into contracts with PeopleAdmin.

Office of Administration-Human Resources conducted a customer satisfaction survey which affirmed the need for changes in HR processes. Additionally, departments have been requesting a web-based solution for simplification and streamlined processing. Given this feedback and the HR intensive paper processes and limited resources, it was determined that a change was in need.

To view the PeopleAdmin Administrative Computing Policy proposal see:
http://vpiet.ucdavis.edu/adminpolicy/projects/peopleadmin.cfm. For additional information or questions on the PeopleAdmin Project, contact Project Lead Michele Platen, mhplatten@ucdavis.edu; or Steering Committee Co-chairs Marion Randall, mkrandall@ucdavis.edu; and Katie Stevens, dkstevens@ucdavis.edu.

III. Chancellor's Fall Conference Action Committee Update – Bernd Hamann, Office of Research
The Chancellor�s Fall Conference Action Plan Committee was established by Vice Provost Pete Siegel on October 30, 2007 as a follow-on to the Chancellor�s Fall Conference in September 2007. This committee is chaired by Bernd Hamann, Office of Research and has broad campus representation.

The charge of this committee is to:

1. Develop a brief 5-year vision document based on the fall conference reports and recommendations.
2. Prepare a specific set of follow-up recommendations based on the breakout group reports.
3. Prioritize all recommendations, especially those involving financial or other resources.
4. Publicize widely (e.g., Fall Conference participants, campus community).

The committee has received the final reports and recommendations from the five break-out groups at the Fall Conference and is in the process of compiling the information into a draft report. The draft report will be distributed to CCFIT for discussion at the March CCFIT meeting. Within the report, some recommendations are longer-term and general in nature; however, the report will identify specific accomplishments that could be substantially achieved within the next 12 months. Additionally, the committee will be measuring the on-going progress and/or success of the recommendations from the perspective of the campus community.

To view the charge to the committee as well as the final reports and podcast recordings from the Fall Conference sessions, see http://vpiet.ucdavis.edu/fallconference.cfm. For follow-up questions or feedback, contact Bernd Haman at bhamann@ucdavis.edu.

IV. Subcommittee Updates

• Educational Technology Subcommittee - Tor Cross, Chair
  The Ed Tech Subcommittee has been developing an instructional resources portal. The portal will be designed as a 'one-stop shopping' Web site with a list of instructional resources that faculty may need to access as they plan and prepare for their classes each quarter. Links will be provided to online information or resources related to such activities as adopting textbooks, using clickers or podcasting, placing materials on reserve at the library, planning course content, accessing digital archives, setting up class electronic communications, evaluating student learning, etc. A demo will be provided to CCFIT once a working prototype is available. (For background information, see http://ccfit.ucdavis.edu/reports/web_proposal_planning_tool.pdf.)

  Also being explored by the EdTech Subcommittee is the Educational Technology Teaching Assistant (ETTA) Proposal submitted to CCFIT last June (http://ccfit.ucdavis.edu/reports/web_proposal_ETTA.pdf). Cross reported that they are recruiting departments interested in participating in a pilot ETTA program, with the first TAs to be trained in preparation for Spring quarter. One department has signed up so far.

  In addition, Cross announced that UC Davis will be hosting a UC-wide conference sponsored by Office of the President on June 20-21. The UC21st conference program will emphasize student learning outcomes, communication inside and outside of the classroom, and assessment of technology's effectiveness in the instructional process. For more information, contact Tor Cross at vlcross@ucdavis.edu.

• Establishment of SmartSite Advisory Committee - Liz Gibson, IET: Academic Technology Services
  Since the official introduction of SmartSite to the campus in fall 2007, instructors are making use of the various course management tools and an increasing number of staff is using SmartSite in support of committee work, departmental communications, and cross-campus projects, and by researchers in support of inter-disciplinary research collaboration both on and off campus.

  The CCFIT Steering Committee approved the need to establish a SmartSite Oversight Committee to help guide and prioritize the continued development of SmartSite. The work of the committee will be particularly critical as SmartSite usage continues to grow, new tools and functionality become available, new needs are identified, and SmartSite is embraced over time as a common solution to our learning and collaboration needs.

  The CCFIT committee members were asked to review the draft charge letter and representation identified for the SmartSite Oversight Committee to ensure constituencies across campus will have the opportunity to advise on the future developments of SmartSite. Additionally, members are asked to send forward any specific recommendations of individuals for the oversight committee.

  For additional information on SmartSite, see https://smartsite.ucdavis.edu. All questions and feedback relating to the SmartSite Oversight Committee may be sent to Liz Gibson at emgibson@ucdavis.edu; or, Vice Provost Pete Siegel at pmsiegel@ucdavis.edu.

• Wireless Expansion Work Group - Matt Bishop
  After consultation and feedback from the CCFIT members and the CCFIT Steering Committee, the Wireless Expansion Work Group has finalized their report and recommendations for the expansion of the wireless network service across campus.

  The committee's report will be used by IET: Communications Resources and campus advisory groups in prioritizing the installation of wireless services in buildings and types of spaces within buildings across the campus.

  See http://ccfit.ucdavis.edu/agenda/wireless_recom_100807.doc to view the Wireless Expansion Work Group's report.

• Establishment of Telecommunications Advisory Committee - Mark Redican
  Following broad campus consultation including the efforts by the Wireless Expansion Work Group, Information and Educational Technology (IET) is about to embark on a six-year telecommunications upgrade effort that will incorporate infrastructure upgrades and service enhancements to the campus voice, data, video, wireless and cellular services managed by IET-Communications Resources.

  The CCFIT Steering Committee approved the establishment of the UC Davis Telecommunications Advisory Committee to provide a forum and process by which telecommunications planning and deployment can remain aligned with the needs of campus constituents. This committee will help guide and prioritize both short- and long-term telecommunications upgrade/replacement efforts and to provide the Vice Provost for IET with recommendations regarding deployment priorities, as well as network service options and technology enhancements that effectively meet the telecommunications needs of faculty, staff, students, support units, and administration.

  The CCFIT Committee members were asked to review the draft charge letter and representation identified for the Telecommunications Advisory Committee to provide for adequate campus feedback and direction with regards to telecommunications.

  For additional information regarding IET Communications Resources services including wireless services, see http://cr.ucdavis.edu/index.cfm. All questions and feedback relating to the Telecommunications Advisory Committee may be sent to Mark Redican at mredican@ucdavis.edu; or Vice Provost Pete Siegel at pmsiegel@ucdavis.edu.

V. Report from Undergraduate Students – Joe Chatham, ASUCD Representative
Joe Chatham, ASUCD's new representative on the CCFIT committee, presented a Report from Undergraduate Students. Outlined in Chatham's report included:

• Additional outlets in the 24-hour reading room. [Marilyn Sharrow and Chatham will discuss off-line the requests regarding the electrical outlets in the Library).
• Additional plasma screen TV's in common areas across campus.
• Expand the use of MyUCDavis and SmartSite for increased information sharing with the students and ASUCD Senate.
• Gmail pilot has been well received by those students participating in the pilot; however, questions still exist regarding existing emails in multiple email accounts. Despite this concern, in general, students would like to see the Gmail pilot eventually open to all students. [Gaston De Ferrari, Gmail Pilot Project Manager discussed some of the questions that have surfaced from the students in the pilot. IET and Google are working closely with the students to import their current and historical email into their new Gmail account. Additionally, students would like to continue to access their email through MyUCDavis in addition to the Gmail service and the project team is developing a mechanism for this functionality to work smoothly.

VI. Technology Innovation: Discovery and Design of New Materials: The Enabling Role of High Performance Computing – Mark Asta, Professor, Chemical Engineering & Materials Science

Mark Asta provided an engaging presentation on high performance computing at UC Davis as well as including his own research in this area. To view a pdf version of Asta�s presentation please see: [link presentation sent by Mark].

Asta stated how valuable campus resources such as the Data Center are for high performance computing and future research developments and opportunities. One area in particular is Computational Science and Engineering (CSE). The CSE is a rapidly developing area with particularly strong connections to the sciences, engineering, and mathematics. The CSE is committed to seeking every opportunity to expand the campus facilities resources to further high performance computing at UC Davis. To learn more about the CSE, see: http://www.cse.ucdavis.edu/about.

Meeting adjourned at 3:50pm