MERC

Nov. 12, 2003, Institutional Representatives Meeting Notes

In Attendance

• John Heard: A. T. Still University of Health Sciences
• Dan Blakeslee: Baptist Bible College
• Rita Gulstad: Central Methodist College
• Russell Helm: Central Missouri State University
• Richard Hiers: Covenant Theological Seminary
• Jim Klinger: Harris Stowe State College
• Theresa Luebbering: Lincoln University
• Rick Mihalevich: Linn State Technical College
• Dave Imler: Logan College of Chiropractic
• Rick Kubb: Maryville University
• Don Doucette: Metropolitan Community Colleges
• Steve Earney: Missouri Southern State University
• Merlin Miller: Northwest Missouri State University
• Joel Lareau: Ozarks Technical Community College
• Bob McGlasson: Southwest Baptist University
• Greg Burris: Southwest Missouri State University
• Greg Wirth: St. Charles Community College
• Chad Shepherd: St. Louis College of Pharmacy
• Craig Klimczak: St. Louis Community College
• Bruce Vieweg: St. Louis University
• Tim Warrn: Truman State University
• Ed Mahon: University of Missouri-Columbia

Welcome and Introductions

Greg Burris, Chair of the MERC Board of Directors, welcomed everyone to the meeting and asked all to introduce themselves. Greg reviewed the vision and statement of purpose of MERC and re-capped the organizational changes that have occurred in the last year. He also reviewed the actions that MERC has taken during the last year including the letters written to legislators and to the Commissioner of Higher Education and the Bandwidth Management and Security task forces that have been created. The current Board members were recognized.

Reports

MOREnet Update

Bill Mitchell, Executive Director of MOREnet, gave the MOREnet update.

Introduction to the MOREnet Council

MOREnet recently completed a Memorandum of Understanding among the Secretary of State, Department of Higher Education, Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and the University of Missouri creating the MOREnet Council. Bill gave an overview of the history of how the MOREnet Council was formed and why, and went over the objectives and functions of the MOREnet Council, the composition of the Council and Council operating procedures. Bill emphasized that the Council and the accompanying MOU formalize the evolving informal relationship among the four organizations that has developed over the last 10 years and provides a structure for decision making.

(Refer to the MOREnet Update PowerPoint presentation for more detailed information presented on the Council.)

MOREnet Network Update

MOREnet will upgrade Internet capacity after the first of the year. Awarded to Sprint and Qwest; 350 MB/vendor/hub (1,400 MB total) initially with increase as demand warrants. OC12 from each into St. Louis and Kansas City hubs. The backbone will also be upgraded, awarded to LightCore (CenturyTel subsidiary), OC12. Vendor has to build into each hub.

e-Conferencing Update

All responses to the initial RFP were rejected. A new RFP was created and responses are due back on Nov. 13, 2003. The evaluation committee will meet on Nov. 19 and 20 and information pertaining to award decisions will be made to customers shortly thereafter.

Remote Vulnerability Assessment Service

MOREnet will soon unveil a cost-recovery Remote Vulnerability Assessment (RVA) Service. Conducted by MOREnet’s Certified Information Systems Security Professionals (CISSP) staff, RVA services will include a study of the public Internet security at customer sites. Details on the service will be announced soon pending final approval by UM Legal.

MOREnet/MERC and the DHE CQI Initiative

As part of the higher education community in Missouri, MOREnet has been asked by the Department of Higher Education to provide feedback to them regarding MOREnet’s statewide impact and influence as it relates to DHE’s continuous quality improvement initiative. This topic was discussed in further detail during the MOREnet/MERC DHE Quality Initiative session at the end of the day.

Department of Higher Education (DHE) Update

Bill Mitchell gave the DHE update for Nancy Devino who was unable to attend. DHE has started two new agency-wide projects; the statewide Quality Improvement Initiative and the Assessment of Student Learning Project. The Assessment of Student Learning Project will have a strong IT component and will focus on the impact on student learning of the state’s investment in IT. To check on project status, contact Nancy Devino at nancy.devino@dhe.mo.gov or check the DHE website at http://www.dhe.mo.gov.

MERC Budget Update

Nancy Piringer provided the update. All MERC invoices have now been sent out. Nancy pointed out that the actuals on the financial report are only through Sept. 30, 2003 and there have been more member service fees received since then.

HELIX Conference Update

Nancy Piringer provided the update. The HELIX call for presentation proposals went out in mid-October. Thus far, only one presentation proposal has been received. Nancy encouraged the IRs to spread the word about the conference and also to encourage their staff and colleagues to submit proposals. New this year will be a track/thread focused on security as well as a track/thread devoted to Web developers. Other focus areas will include teaching and learning, leadership and technical policy, and networking/user support. Conference information is available at: http://www.more.net/conferences/helix2004/index.html

Keynote Presentation

Gerry Wethington, CIO of the State of Missouri Office of Information Technology, provided the keynote presentation, "Network Administration Practices Through Collaboration: Imagine the Possibilities." Gerry emphasized the need to re-visit the approach to the application of information technology and the delivery of information and services in today's networked environment.

Afternoon Focus Group Sessions

Greg Burris introduced the afternoon sessions, stating that the goal for the afternoon is to provide the MERC Board with priorities and information on what issues need to be addressed by additional taskforces. He announced the membership on the Security and Bandwidth taskforces. Institutional Representatives met in their respective sector groups (public two-year and technical colleges, public four-year and independent) and provided feedback on their prioritized listing of their sector's current technology-related issues and concerns.

Notes from break out groups in response to question, "What is your prioritized list of issues and concerns?"

Four-Year

1. Appropriate use of state technology resources
   1. faculty use/support
2. Purchasing
   1. contract awareness
   2. VPA
3. Marketing
4. Resource inventory
   1. Staff/staff expertise
   2. Major software
   3. Information sources/listserves

Independent

• (1.) Videoconferencing
  • MERC delivery
• (4.) Volume purchasing
• Copyright (MCA, RIA)
• Budget
• (2.) Managing Spam
• Federal regulations
• (3.) Outsourcing H.D. (e.g. state help desk) desktop, operations
• Training-brokering – online training, faculty
• Project management – value of IT
• Staff development – IT

Two-Year

• Life-cycle replacement and coordinating it with DESE – can we lobby DESE?
• Vulnerability Assessment, consortium approach- make it part of membership
• Training – security, ADA, wireless security
• Disaster recovery – off site hosting of web and phone services (also was mentioned hosting off-site critical data

MOREnet/MERC DHE Quality Initiative

Bill Mitchell asked that Institutional Representatives provide MOREnet with their answers to the following question: "What is the difference between MOREnet and a commercial ISP?" by Jan. 1, 2004. To help frame responses, he requested that IR’s think about:

• The impact and influence that MOREnet has had on the system of higher education in Missouri, i.e., MOBIUS.
• The impact and influence that MOREnet has had at the institutional level on their campus, i.e., cost avoidance on security staff
• The impact and influence MOREnet has had at the faculty and student levels at their institution.