Council on Academic Computing
Meeting Summary
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Joint Research Projects with IBM
Dr.
Klinzing summarized a recent meeting with former University students. Several faculty members were approached by
former students, who are now at IBM, regarding research collaborations. A meeting of eight faculty members (including
the CAC Chair) from across the University was convened to explore the
question: “What is computing going
to be like in the next 30 years?”
At the outset, it was agreed that 30 years was “too long a time
period” and decided that five years is a more reasonable timeframe.
Discussions
among the group included the following topics: general acceptance of the Web
and data sharing; changes in the use of cyber infrastructure; the expansion of
computing into home environments and appliances, grid computation, and imbedded
systems; data centric issues; security; the sociology of doing science and long
distance collaboration; standardization of hardware and software and the lack
of middleware in many applications; and the education and training of students
in high performance computing. The group agreed to think about these
topics, as well as suggest others, for further discussion of research
collaborations with IBM.
Council
members were interested in the training of students and discussed this topic
briefly. Dr. Klinzing will forward to
the Council a copy of the minutes for their information.
Network Connections Proposals
Council
subcommittee members recommended nine proposals for funding this year. Due to the availability of funding, it was
determined that only three awards could be given now; however, after the next
fiscal year budgets have been complete, there may be additional money available
for other worthy projects. Dr. Klinzing
thanked Drs. Dick, Galletta, and Hoelzeman, who commented that the proposals, as a whole,
were more focused this year. Dr.
Klinzing will inform Council of the funded projects as soon as the final
decision has been made.
CAC Activity Report
Dr.
Klinzing noted that the Communications Subcommittee has been working on a
report that could be the basis for the annual activity report prepared for the
Provost and asked for suggestions for next year’s agenda. Continuing topics for Council’s review
are faculty training programs, to be explored with the Advisory Council on
Instructional Excellence’s Faculty Development Committee. A second, ongoing area for Council’s
agenda is high performance computing.
Additional suggestions for topics were requested from CAC members, who
should contact Dr. Klinzing.
Dr.
Chandra has already met with Dr. Diane Davis (Director, CIDDE and Staff
Resource to the ACIE), who is seeking ideas from CAC as to what areas the
faculty may be lacking in training. He
noted that CIDDE regularly offers training programs in the
University’s Courseweb program
(Blackboard), as well as sponsoring the annual Summer Institutes for
faculty. This year, two workshop
sessions were offered on designing academic tests and teaching large classes;
the third workshop is individual course design consultation services.
Computing Charges to Departmental
Accounts
Dr.
Klinzing informed CAC members that Provost Maher had informed both deans and
department chairs about computing charges for home access to University research
being charged to individual accounts and outlined the
circumstances under which this charge may be legitimately
and correctly expensed. CAC members
who had not received information on this topic asked if this communication was
available on the Provost’s website. Dr. Klinzing will follow-up and suggested that a
department chair or dean would also be able to share the information.
NEXT MEETING
The
original schedule of meetings distributed in the fall did not include a meeting
in June. It was agreed that, unless
there is an emergency, another meeting will not be scheduled.