APPROVED

IHETS Management Committee
September 17, 2002

PRESENT

Erv Boschmann, Indiana University
Joetta Burrous, Purdue University
Greg Fawcett, Independent Colleges of Indiana
Michael Gay, Purdue University
Vernon Houchins, Vincennes University
Lou Jensen, Indiana State University
Bill Kramer, Chair, Ivy Tech State College
Steve Mayo, Purdue University
Abu Moniruzzan, Ivy Tech State College
Bob Ruble, University of Southern Indiana
Frank Sabatine, Ball State University
O’Neal Smitherman, Ball State University
Brian Voss, Indiana University – Bloomington

IHETS STAFF: Carol Brunty, Tim Fisher, Betty Hart, Susan, Scott, Ed Tully

Kramer called the meeting to order at 10: 00 am.

Kramer began by thanking those members of the Management Committee who participated in the teleconference at the last Board of Directors meeting. It is helpful that we have the management members partnering with the Board members, keeping them informed of the items that come before us and some of the actions taken. With the board meeting only meeting twice a year, one of those being the major meeting when for budget review, obviously they are relying on the management committee members to brief them and keep them informed.

The July meeting minutes were approved as submitted.

Two noteworthy actions were taken, one was a suggestion from President Jischke of Purdue that IHETS carefully consider the matter of user fees for the various services that IHETS supports; and secondly take a more conservative approach to the budget request.

King indicated the budget 03-05 biennial proposal submitted was under the proposed 3.5% spending cap.

Fisher distributed copies of the budget as the final submission to the Commission on Higher Education and the State Budget office. The question was raised about whether the Board understands all of the current users fees. IHETS staff will prepare an analysis of current and projected users fees to share with the Board of Directors.

Kramer asked for comments from those that participated in the teleconference
O’Neal Smitherman, Ball State, affirmed King’s explanation that the Board may not understand just how much is being recovered. Ruble commented that raising user fees is not that different in policy than raising tuition.

Kramer asked if the Presidents receive copies of minutes, King replied that we do not send copies of the minutes from the Management Committee to the board, we post them but postings are a little behind. Other methods of communicating with the Board were discussed, including a monthly update. There was no opposition to this issue.

Kramer asked where we are with regard to this coming year with revenue verses projected expenditures. King stated that the user fees that are in place right now or anticipated July 1 all are directly related to clear budgeted expenses, the satellite fee that goes into place of July 1 of 2003 we were able to defer because we were also deferring the expenditure of the $250,000 in this fiscal year because of the grant program.

Additional discussion concerning video bridging fees and SUVON continued, indicating the fees simply offset overall expenses.

Joetta Burrous suggested that IHETS make available a list of all fees and ones being considered along with possibilities. King stated that that is what he is anticipating for the board in November so that the development will come through the various committees.

King reiterated that the bridging cost is only for IP Video Bridge and those fees are scheduled to go into effect July 1, 2003.

King proposed that we take an in-depth look at the IHETS satellite system and its relationship to two-way video and the new Lifelong Learning Service. An interim report will be available in November with a final report to the Management Committee with recommendations by the January meeting. King proposed that a task force be created that includes leadership from the Management Committee and membership from 2 each from ITC and the Partnership along with staff support that would look very carefully at the inner action of these 3 items along with the bridge.
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Re-establishing INDnet as a Higher Education virtual private network
King opened by saying that Ed Tully has composed a white paper titled the Why’s of INDnet and that we are talking about the restructuring of how we relate to ITN so that we have more capability to provide the needs of the member institutions. The reestablishing of INDnet is basically a higher education virtual private network. A precedent has already been set for that as State Government agencies were brought on to the network. The ITC and the Partnership have both heard some of this discussion this is not an action item as much as it is an information item as it is taken back to the ITN Steering committee.

King reviewed the history of ITN for the newer members present. The idea of re-establishing INDnet goes back to just prior of the formation of ITN about 4 years ago IHETS had developed at that time a statewide data network that was called INDnet and provided internet access for all of the member institutions who needed it.

Our next step is to bring the Management Committee a clearly stated economic analysis and how it might impact the institutions. E-mail questions or concerns to Dave King.

ITC Report
Tully reported that two meetings have taken place within the last two weeks in the re-establishing of INDnet with no objections. A joint meeting with the Partnership Group to explain what it would mean to IHETS and constituent members if we did reconstitute INDnet, we are trying to involve the Independent College members in re-developing INDnet.

A meeting is scheduled for Friday at Ball State on Digital Asset Management and Virage software.

Boschmann discussed the events of the August 9th meeting of The Commission for Higher Education and the approval of the Ivy Tech Assisted Wide Degree Programs; Paralegal, Computer Information Systems, and Human Resources. Dick Tully has been working on a home institution model

Ed Stockey reported on the Virage presentation.

Scott presented a 15 page draft of the ICN Business Plan. The committee centered their attention on the last page of the last item which suggests that one way to address fiscal hard times is for institutions to contribute a modest annual participation fee of $1,000 for ICN operation.

Staff Reports
Scott shared that recruitment is underway for a Program Manager to assist and move along the Lifelong Learning Service, Partnership and program development. The position has been posted for one week and several candidates have applied.

Portal Update
King shared that the contract with Haverstick has been approved and signed. This is an eight month project with funding from The Lilly Endowment and from partners in education and libraries.

The meeting was adjourned at 11:20 a.m.