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Staff and Administrative Council
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April 19, 2005
Present: Antonelli, R., Cagianello, D., Casali, M., Cipollone, G., Colangelo, F., Mastantuoni, A., Pace, M., Pascuzzi, K., Patota, N., Torigian, A., Wenchell, L., Young-Wright, K. Absent: Bartolomeo, R., Brennan, K., Callaghan, M., English, L., Feller, T., Finn, M. I. Approval of Minutes from March 15, 2005 II. Teresa Johnson of Mission Integration discussed the revised edition (2005) of the Essential Elements Document and how it came into being. The Christian Brothers wrote this document in 2000 with the purpose putting into words what it means to have a Christian Brothers Education. Teresa wanted SAC members’ feedback about her revised document, which will be used as a tool for new employees in understanding the Iona mission and its tradition of Edmund Rice in Higher Education. Teresa also pointed out that this document is meant to be used as a tool to elicit discussion among the Iona community. III. Report on the Standing Committees of the College Council A) Information Technology and Computing The Committee met on April 11, 2005. The Committee approved the increase in faculty web space and student U drive space. Student drive space will increase from 10MB to 100 MB per student. The faculty space will increase to 1 GB. The Committee approved an increase in the number of duplicating copies adjunct faculty can make per month. This allocation increased to 500 copies per month from 200 copies. The Committee approved the allocation of 170 new faculty and staff computers. There will be 108 faculty machines and 62 administrative machines. Joanne Steele plans on replacing any machine under 1 Gigahertz. The new machines will go to high-powered users with older machines going to other users on campus. Joanne will work with the Deans’ offices to determine priorities for allocations and re-allocations. Joanne estimates the entire project will take about six months. This project will not be done all at once due to budget and IT manpower considerations. The Committee discussed the College’s need to adopt a policy that would require students to purchase/lease laptops. Some professors expressed concern over software licenses, especially for specialized software. One possible solution is to look for free or inexpensive specialized software. Some of this type software often comes with textbooks. It was noted that this policy would not necessarily eliminate teaching labs; however, it would alleviate the needs of certain departments (i.e. Mass Communication and their request for a second lab). Some professors would also appreciate/need the ability to stay in a classroom setting even if students had laptops. The heart of this discussion focuses on whether or not Iona is willing to join the current trend of colleges and universities that have gone wireless via mandatory purchases/leases. Discussion about St. John’s decision to do so two years ago came up. At one time, St. John’s was thought of being behind Iona but is now seen as being ahead of us in the computer/technology area, because we are perceived as being less “high-tech.” The Committee expressed a concern that Iona would be at a competitive disadvantage in various surveys if we did adopt a policy of laptop purchase. In previous discussions, the Committee wondered how other departments and committees on campus would react to such a change. Admissions is against making such a change. The Committee discussed a loose time frame for implementing this policy, if adopted. The earliest possible start date would be Fall 2006. Based on recruiting strategy, it is possible that the start date would have to be pushed back to Fall 2007. It was decided that the Committee would make a recommendation to College Council for the College to pursue a policy requiring students to purchase/lease laptops. It was also suggested that Tom Weede be invited to the next College Council meeting to voice his concerns and to address any questions. IV. SAC Election A second ballot was sent out to all constituents today because the first one was not reflective V. Constitutional Reform How do we make changes, if needed, to the Constitution? According to the Constitution, first year SAC members cannot participate on any College Council standing committees. After being on SAC for one year those members become eligible to serve on these committees. Two-thirds membership is needed to make any changes in the Constitution. As a committee we can become more effective in making change by getting a two-third vote via a letter stating that members can vote by either responding “no” to a change or by agreeing to a change in the Constitution by not responding at all. This will need approval by the Board of Trustees and the President of the College Council. VI. Open Meeting Looking forward, it was discussed that it may make more sense if next year’s open meeting is the first meeting of the semester. This will also help create an agenda for the year. VII. New Business In regards to campus outreach, it was discussed that to be more effective as a committee eligible members should be reached out to as a department and not alphabetically (as previously done). Also this may make it easier for new members to take over a previous member’s territory. Meeting adjourned, 3:10 pm. Submitted, M. Pace |
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Minutes