CSG General Meeting
Meeting Summary
Tuesday – February 26, 2008
From 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
11348 Young Research Library

Attendees: Ross Bollens, Paul Craft, Carmela Cunningham, Jim Davis, Steve Duim, Jackson Jeng, Bill Jepson, Carol King, Michelle Lew, Max Kopelevich, Tom Phelan, Terry Ryan, Mike Schilling, David Snow, Kent Wada, Don Worth

Guests: Mark Bower, John Min, Margo Reveil, Jackie Reynolds, Karen Ribback, Rose Rocchio

The meeting was called to order at 2:05 p.m. on February 26, 2008 by Jim Davis.

Announcement: Margo Reveil is the new Assistant Chief Information Officer (CIO).  A notice will be sent regarding the new Assistant CIO.

Agenda Item 1: IAMUCLA project overview document discussion.

• Background Information:

• Request for CSG to examine the Project Control Document and send feedback to the IAMUCLA Management Oversight Group (MOG).  At the moment, any application can shift to the shibboleth system.  In the next six months, the MOG plans to have all new applications use shibboleth.  The next step is to transition all current applications to the shibboleth system.

• Discussion Points:

• Jackie Reynolds and Albert Wu were invited to explain the IAMUCLA project to the Campus Computing Council (CCC).
• A concern was expressed that the identification and access management system will not have the same dynamic functions as the current systems (ie. Access directory) for groups like CCC.  A possible solution is to create a spin off committee that will address this functionality concern but the committee will not be a technical group.
• A concern was expressed that groups with large and complex identification and access management system like CCC will incorporate the IAMUCLA project.
• A concern was expressed that the IAMUCLA project will replace the existing systems in CCLE.  CCLE currently runs shibboleth so the system will not be replaced.  The project will add functionality to the system like grouping login.
• It was requested to clarify the long-run goals of IAMUCLA.

Agenda Item 2: Campus wireless assessment, including overview of student survey.

• Background Information:

• Information was gathered from student surveys.  The Undergraduate Students Association Council (USAC) presented student concerns to the CSG regarding wireless availability on campus.  Undergraduate students identified specific locations for more wireless access.
• New access points (APs) were added to ensure wireless coverage.  Some other APs were moved to maximize coverage.
• Currently, all libraries have wireless access.  Some areas along the outer perimeter of Young Research Library (YRL) lacked wireless coverage.  New APs were added to provide coverage.
• Other areas that have wireless coverage include West Center and the Central Ticket Office (CTO).
• Currently the Communications Technology Services (CTS) is working with the Acosta Athletic Complex and the Morgan Center to get wireless to the athletics areas.

• Discussion Points:

• A concern was expressed that there are some faculty that do not want wireless in certain areas.  CTS works with building personnel/staff to determine the need for wireless in the area.
• A concern was expressed about how to manage the access to the wireless network.  When wireless access is provided, the provider needs to run a Virtual Private Network (VPN) to broadcast a Service Set Identifier (SSID).  There are some wireless areas that do not run the VPN.  CTS is researching the wireless portals in the Residential Halls areas.  CTS will investigate more practical methods to substitute the VPN.  A possible solution is to use portals that do not require IP socket tunnels.
• A concern was expressed that creating guest accounts is not practical.  Currently, guest accounts can be created in batches.  The guest account batch system has been running for about 12 months.
• A concern was expressed that there is a conflict of interest between staff and students.  Staff wants limited wireless access in certain areas and students want wireless in those uncovered areas.

Action: The committee will bring the concerns of this discussion to Next-Generation Network (NGN) for technical recommendations to help resolve the issue.

Agenda Item 3: Update on TIER projects and MOUs.

• Background Information:

• A copy of the TIER Project memorandum of understanding (MOU) to the Deans was presented.  Committee on IT Infrastructure (CITI) is working on getting the MOU approved by the Deans.
• Funding for wireless for bldgs with multiple tenants.
• Seven of projects were approved for 18 months of funding.  The MOUs need to be approved before the projects can receive funding.
• The MOU will expire after three years.  Then new MOUs will be drafted or the current one will be reviewed and renewed.
• The MOU states that equipment for the project will be completely funded, but requests for equipment will have to go through the NGN group.  Maintenance will not be funded by TIER.  The maintenance costs will be paid by the department and the department must agree to paying the maintenance for three years.

• Discussion Points:

• After the MOUs have been approved, CITI will look into forming campus maintenance contracts/systems to be more cost effective.  Departments may need to go to outside vendors for maintenance contracts.
• The TIER project will be modeling the hardware in the medical school and the science buildings to demonstrate how the departments have integrated their hardware into one cooperative system.
• The TIER project will have to look at the cost model to help network service providers pinpoint the exact cost of supporting the hardware and systems.
• A concern was expressed that CITI may be too strict on the cost as to ensure that the most cost effective items are being purchased.  The TIER project does not intent to limit the internal design.  It was recommended that a consistent reassessment of the MOU terms to ensure that the correct internal design is built.

Agenda Item 4: CCLE Overview with emphasis on administrative system.

• Background Information:

• The Common Collaboration and Learning Environment (CCLE) project is one of the seven projects that will be funded.  18 months of funding will be provided.  After the 18 months, the CCLE project will report its progress to continue to receive funding.  Many academic units have committed to the CCLE project.  The campus libraries are working on getting the CCLE system integrated.  The coordinator for the project will help synchronize the efforts of the academic units.

• Discussion Points:

• A proposal was presented to rename CCLE to “CONCERT.”

The meeting was adjourned at 3:33 p.m. on February 26, 2008.