MERC

Oct. 28, 2004, Institutional Representatives Meeting Notes

In Attendance

• Gary Allen – University of Missouri, Columbia
• Greg Burris – Southwest Missouri State University
• Beth Chancellor – University of Missouri, Columbia
• Bob Cook – State Fair Community College
• Darrick Davis – Missouri Valley College
• Don Doucette – Metropolitan Community Colleges
• Bill Elder – University of Missouri, Columbia
• Teresa Fort – Westminster College
• Chad Gaines – Central Methodist University
• Kelli Garrett – MOREnet
• Larry Haffner – Webster University
• Scott Hartwig – Harris-Stowe State College
• John Heard – A.T. Still University of Health Sciences
• Russell Helm – Central Missouri State University
• James Hobbs III – Lincoln University
• Brad Hough – Covenant Theological Seminary
• Tracy James – Jefferson College
• Craig Klimczak – St. Louis Community College
• Rick Kubb – Maryville University
• Joel Lareau – Ozarks Technical Community College
• Mark Mabe – Missouri Western State College
• Troy Malotte – Missouri Valley College
• Rick Mihalevich – Linn State Technical College
• Bill Mitchell – MOREnet
• Nancy Piringer – MOREnet
• Jon Rickman – Northwest Missouri State University
• Joe Rozman – Three Rivers Community College
• Ellen Watson – St. Louis University
• Greg Wirth – St. Charles Community College
• Brian Buege – University of Missouri, Rolla
• Dan Blakeslee – Baptist Bible College

Budget Overview

The budget presented is reflective of the one time discount in membership fees approved by the Board to bring down the reserve total by $200,000.00 in FY’05 and also of the $30,000.00 allocated to the HELIX 2005 conference. If not all of the $30,000.00 is expended in support of the conference, the remainder will be returned to the reserve fund. Piringer mentioned the revenues are currently low because MOREnet is slightly behind in invoicing.

HELIX Conference Update

Recognition of HELIX Conference Planning Committee: Nancy Gordon, Rita Gulstad, Russell Helm, Sandra Monnig, Eric Nicklas, Nancy Piringer, George Rickerson, Darla Runyon.

The HELIX 2005 conference theme is Information Waves. The four tracks will be: Administrative Systems; Energizing Teaching and Learning; Security/networking/User Support; and Web Development. The MoTEC group is going to sponsor the “Energizing Teaching and Learning” track and the “MO HigherEd Web Development group will be assisting with the Web Development track. The call for presenters has gone out. Still looking for ideas for the key note speaker, please submit any suggestions to Piringer.

As part of the $30,000.00 approved to help support the conference; one free seat will be offered to each institution to encourage participation. Doucette suggested if you already plan to attend the conference, use the “free” ticket to bring another individual from your institution.

MOREnet Strategic Plan

Mitchell shared the four components of the Strategic Plan. 1. Operate a secure, reliable, and robust shared network to maximize the value of Missouri’s investment in public sector telecommunications. 2. P rovide the most valuable set of services to our diverse community of customers. 3. Expand MOREnet’s leadership role in the state, become the “Go To” partner for information technology decisions. 4. Ensure that internal activities encourage customer participation and focus on organizational performance.

Mitchell relayed the Next Steps in the Strategic Plan. Specific actions and projects to meet the goals, prioritize and schedule, detail plans for next two years, annual review and tune-up, adjust to current & possible future environments.

Public Higher Education Size-Appropriate Connection Policy

The MOREnet Council budget subcommittee has endorsed the concept of size-appropriate bandwidth for MERC public 2-year and 4-year institutions whose circuits are paid for out of HB3. This topic was first broached in FY’04, but given the timing of circuit expirations and accompanying penalties, it was deemed not to be cost effective and the decision was made to revisit the issue in FY ’05. Currently there are some institutions not using a majority of their DS3 line. Some institutions are at 45 Mb currently and will soon require more bandwidth, and a couple who are paying for bandwidth in excess of 45Mb. Mitchell mentioned that MOREnet is trying to move away from the “one size fits all” concept in bandwidth and that the goal is to meet the needs of the institution.

The MERC Board will discuss this issue at the next Board meeting when the results of the DS3 and Ethernet bids are back.

MOREnet External Performance Measures Initiative

Dr. Bill Elder, Director of the Office of Social and Economic Data Analysis at the University of Missouri-Columbia briefed the MERC Institutional Representatives on the progress of the project thus far and introduced the group to the rationale and data gathering tools that will be used. Focus Group sessions are in process and will provide information for this initiative. IRs are encouraged to talk with their colleagues regarding MOREnet’s impact before attending their session.

MOREnet Legislative Strategy

MOREnet’s direct funding is appropriated from the state under University of Missouri from House Bill 3. Legislative strategy goals are: to maintain current core funding levels from HB3, to support the $1,443,777 increase recommended by CBHE, to assist in preparing and supporting new appropriation decision items.

Future appropriates will be acquired by the following tactics: influence legislators via advocates, develop legislators as MOREnet “Champions”, develop joint advocacy actions, provide key individuals with appropriate MOREnet information specific to roles and perspectives.

Since MOREnet is not a typical organization the following Communication Plan has been developed. 1. Identify information and messages to be relayed (who, what, when, how). 2. Provide targeted information developed for specific groups. 3. Monitor developments during Legislative session and modify as appropriate.

Mitchell asked each IR to be an advocate for MOREnet. MOREnet is interested in upcoming events to attend where legislators are present.

MERC CIO Forum

MERC Institutional Representatives were asked to identify the top issues facing them and to break into groups and discuss. Issues identified included Banner implementation, network security, federal compliance issues (FERPA, HIPAA, GLBA), and authentication/identity management issues.

As a result of the interest expressed by the IRs to continue these discussions; a series of virtual CIO forums will be scheduled using MOREnet’s e-Conferencing tool. A schedule of events will be published on the Web.

Respectfully submitted by Kelli Garret