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Meeting Minutes

Meeting Minutes for January 14, 2002

A meeting of the University Information Technology Advisory Committee was called to order at 3:10 p.m. on January 14, 2002, in the 4th floor conference room of Cabell Library. Dr. Robert Mattauch, co-chair, presided. Members present were Dr. Lynn Nelson, Ms. Fran Smith, Dr. James Shultz, Mr. Carl Gattuso, Dr. Phyllis Self, Mr. John Ulmschneider, and Mr. Mark Willis. Dr. Timothy Broderick, Dr. David Sarrett, and Ms. Veronica Shuford were absent. Also present were Mr. Bill Jones, Director of VCUnet, Mr. Bob Neale, Director of the University Computer Center, and Mr. Jim Bostick, Director of Web and Research Computing.

I. REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF MINUTES FROM DECEMBER 10, 2001 MEETING
The following amendments were made:
1. The fourth paragraph under Item II – The first sentence should be amended to include Audit and Management Services.
2. The fourth paragraph under Item II – In the second sentence, Enforcement Document should be changed to VCU Computer and Network Resources Use Policy.
The December 10 Minutes were approved as corrected.

Before proceeding with Item II on the agenda, Dr. Mattauch requested that in the future, all documents being reviewed by the Committee should include the date of the latest revision in order to avoid confusion as to which version is the most current. For instance, the date of the original document could be followed by “.1” for the first revision, “.2” for the second, etc.

He also suggested that all documents have electronic versions available to committee members.

II. PROPOSED REVISIONS TO INFORMATION SECURITY STANDARDS
Two documents, Server & Workstation Requirements and Firewall and Filtering Policy, were introduced and discussed at the December 10th UITAC meeting. The documents were revised to incorporate changes that were suggested at that meeting and returned to the committee for approval. After review and discussion, a motion to adopt the changes was made and seconded. There was no further discussion, and the proposed standards were adopted unanimously.

III. PROPOSED WIRELESS NETWORKING STANDARDS
Mr. Bill Jones, Director of VCUnet, presented an overview of the proposed wireless networking standards to the committee and highlighted the changes being proposed in Attachments 1, 2 and 3. The first part of the document is mostly background information.

ATTACHMENT 1: ACCESS POINT STANDARDS
These standards insure compatibility and state the minimum requirements when acquiring an access point. A motion was made and seconded that this section be approved. It passed unanimously.

ATTACHMENT 2: CLIENT CONFIGURATION STANDARDS
This section details standards for the configuration of client PCs to utilize wireless technologies. Since these requirements affect only the individual user and not the network infrastructure, it was suggested that they be proposed as guidelines rather than standards. A motion was made and seconded that this section be approved. It passed unanimously.

ATTACHMENT 3: CONDITIONS OF USE FOR WIRELESS CONNECTIONS
This section explains the limitations of wireless technology and states ways to protect valuable information and privacy. It is the “policing” section. It states that anyone who wants to use the wireless should abide by these rules.

The committee discussed this section at length.

Dr. Mattauch asked that each person, within two weeks, provide suggestions regarding this standard to Ms. Barbie. The suggestions will be compiled and sent out electronically to the committee members. Action on this section was deferred until the next committee meeting.

FOR INFORMATION:

I. E-MAIL MANAGEMENT ISSUES
Mr. Bob Neale, Director of the University Computer Center, attended the meeting to talk about some of the issues regarding e-mail (user message storage quotas, broadcast e-mail guidelines, and security, virus protection, spam, etc.). There was general discussion that the use of VCU e-mail accounts should be promoted, especially among students.

Since there was not enough time to discuss the issues of e-mail broadcast guidelines and spam, those issues were put on hold until the next meeting.

II. IMPLICATIONS OF PATRIOT ACT
A handout from an audio conference on the Patriot Act was distributed and will be discussed at the next meeting.

There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 4:45 pm.