TECHNOLOGY PLANNING & PRIORITIES COMMITTEE
APRIL 20, 2011
Present: Joel Cooper, Nathan Grawe, Joe Hargis, Bev Nagel, Paul Thiboutot, Jim Fergerson
Absent: Fred Rogers, Hudlin Wagner, Laura Chihara
AGENDA:
1. Approve minutes from February 23rd meeting.
2. Discussion of telephone upgrade proposal, continued–Joel, all (40 minutes)
3. Update on redundant Internet connection–Joel (10 minutes)
4. Admissions software selection update–Paul (5 minutes)
Approve minutes from February 23rd meeting:
The minutes from the February 23, 2011 meeting were approved with no changes.
Discussion of telephone upgrade proposal:
Discussion of this topic was postponed until the May meeting.
Update on redundant Internet connection:
Joel gave the committee an update on progress being made to secure a redundant Internet connection to Carleton. He showed us a map of Northfield and explained where the current fiber runs. Currently the fiber is a jointly owned, shared resource by Carleton, St. Olaf, and the St. Olaf phone company. Our intention is to establish a point of presence to resolve any areas that are potentially vulnerable and avoid a repeat situation like last New Year’s weekend.
We are currently having conversations with two companies:
1. Zayo – to establish a presence on their SONET ring and establish a route west of Northfield. Zayo just went through reorganization so we are now working with new representatives and having to re-do some initial work. Establishing a route west out of town will be more problematic as it is owned by the Lonsdale Phone Company and St. Olaf Phone Company. Negotiating this route would be more complicated and difficult.
2. TIES – they currently are established in town and provide Internet service to the Northfield Schools. They are proposing to provide a redundant Internet connection to us and St. Olaf. The rental/lease cost would be around $100,000 split over 5 years. Their point of presence is in Dundas.
Next steps in the process are to get:
· Formal proposals and pricing from Zayo and TIES and do a cost vs. benefit analysis.
· Work with St. Olaf and Zayo to establish ourselves as a point of presence.
Another fiber project on campus we are currently involved with is the building of fiber out to the new wind turbine. Joel will report back to the committee when he has more information.
Admissions software selection update:
Paul Thiboutot gave us an update on the replacement of Recruitment plus software. In June two members from ITS and other committee members will be attending the College Board conference where vendors will be giving presentations. The timetable for the project has been moved up. The selection committee has plans to invite vendors to campus, select one this summer, and have a product in place by December. Their plan is to take a phased-in approach where both new software and Recruitment plus will work in parallel for approximately 6 months. The class of 2012 will be the last one entered into Recruitment plus. Committee members have also been talking with vendors and doing some initial research to see if their products will integrate with our current systems. One useful feature in Recruitment plus we will likely lose is the travel management feature. We are also having conversations with St. Olaf to take advantage of any possible joint cost savings.
Meeting adjourned at 2:50pm
Submitted by,
Candyce Lelm