APPROVED
IHETS Board and Management Committee
April 22, 2005 at 3:00
IHETS Boardroom
Board Participants:
Patrick Alles, Independent Colleges of Indiana
Lloyd Benjamin, Indiana State University
Wayne Bohm, University of Southern Indiana
Jim Bottum, Purdue University
Hans Giesecke, Independent Colleges of Indiana
Richard Helton, Vincennes University
Michael Huffman, Department of Education
David Jent, Indiana University
Ed Kinley, Indiana State University
Gerald Lamkin, Ivy Tech State College
Abu Moniruzzaman, Ivy Tech State College
Michael McRobbie, Indiana University
Michael Piper, INCOLSA
O’Neil Smitherman, Ball State University
Tom Stefand, Earlham College
Phyllis Usher, Department of Education
Lloyd Wright, Indiana Public Broadcasting
Guests: David Hensel, Sommer and Barnard, legal counsel for IHETS
IHETS Staff: Tim Fisher, Dave King, Susan Scott, Tim Ping, Rauf Khalid, Kevin Siminski, Julie Wheeler,
Chairman Benjamin called the meeting to order at 3:05pm.
The group went to Executive Session to discuss legal issues.
Public Session
Budget Update –
King reported that he met with Senator Meeks and his legislative fiscal analyst last week to discuss the Senate Appropriations committee recommendation to cut 50% from the IHETS budget. They offered us an opportunity to provide an alternative. During that meeting, Meeks expressed concern that the IHETS member institutions do not have an adequate stake or investment in the on-going operating budget of IHETS, and that the proposed 50% cut was “a way to get our attention.” King agreed that the model he described where member institutions have a greater stake as opposed to appropriated funds, is fairly common (ie; MORnet, WiscNet),
but he couldn’t restructure the IHETS consortium in the short time remaining before they close the budget. Staff developed a proposal which outlines cutting 12.4% in first year and an additional approximately 20% cut in the second year of the biennium. This would be a way of effectively managing the budget proposed and get to the overall goal that was expected. In addition, it gives use a year to work with member institutions and committees on a process by which we can look at those options. King stated that he is cautiously optimistic that proposed cuts will be accepted.
The Management Committee will meet on May 17 to begin putting together a plan for how to make those cuts and develop a biennial budget.
King added that as outlined in the Intelenet/IHETS contract, IHETS will continue to run the network through July 30, 2006. He expects network user fees to be lower no matter what happens with the state budget.
RFP Options-
King reviewed the options for the state network RFP. Following discussion it was determined that Option 1 be dropped due to time constraints in developing a response to the RFP. AT&T and SBC will be informed of the decision so that they can respond to the RFP on their own if desired.
McRobbie stated that he supports a high-performance higher education network for the state. He added that work should continue to ensure that I-Light2 network continues to be put in place.
Following discussion Benjamin moved
that IHETS not respond to the state network RFP and maintain the higher education network. In addition, IHETS should urge the completion of the
I-Light2 network, and remain open to additional opportunities.
Wright seconded the motion and it was unanimously approved.
New Business
A new item of business came out of the executive session discussion about whether IHETS should provide counsel for employees that will be interviewed during the legal investigation.
Usher moved
that IHETS engage and pay for separate legal counsel to represent the IHETS employees who the criminal investigators wish to interview. IHETS will pay for such representation as long as any represented employee is not accused of any criminal wrong doing. If allegations of criminal wrong doing are made against an employee, IHETS has the right to reconsider its decision to continue paying for legal representation for that employee.
Wright seconded the motion and it was unanimously approved.
If Indiana University is unable to provide legal counsel for employees, Benjamin, Kramer and Wright will work with staff to identify outside counsel to represent the employees.
With no further business to discuss, the meeting adjourned at 4:05pm
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