Instructional Support Committee

Attending: Richard Fyffe, Chris Johnston (SGA), Cecilia Knight, Dan Reynolds, John Whittaker, Jon Chenette, Bill Francis, Keri Kornelson, Terri Phipps

Minutes of 20 September approved.

Curricular Development Guidelines: Addition of the following language is approved under the Professional Meetings Relating to Teaching rubric. Additional language is italicized.

Professional meetings relating to teaching ordinarily follow guidelines for second conferences: http://www.grinnell.edu/offices/dean/forms/facultytravelguide/. Such meetings may warrant more generous funding according to CSFS professional meeting guidelines if they are part of interdisciplinary initiatives endorsed by the Office of Interdisciplinary Studies and the faculty member's department. The online form for funding requests can be found at: http://www.grinnell.edu/offices/dean/forms/facultytravelguide/facultytravelform/

Budget Guidelines: Applications must include a budget. The following formula will be used ordinarily when allocating funds for additional meetings. Once the maximum budget is established faculty members may be reimbursed for expenses up to that total, regardless of expense line. For instance funds saved in travel may be applied to lodging. If the meeting is related to interdisciplinary initiatives endorsed by the Office of Interdisciplinary Studies and the faculty member's department, the more generous budget guidelines for first professional meetings will apply (http://www.grinnell.edu/offices/dean/forms/facultytravelguide/).

Creative Computing Lab: Will open October 5. An Open House will be held from 1:30-3:30 on October 5 and 6. Trustees will tour the facility if time allows.

• The HelpDesk has been up and running since the beginning of the semester.
• Training Lab is almost complete. ITS is working with FM to complete the work, specifically in regard to preventing wires from becoming a trip hazard.
• The goal is to have hours at the CCL mirror those of Burling. However, the current shortage of trained student labor makes this impossible for now.

Bill presented some possible solutions, including:

• Scheduling and posting topical support. For example, sessions for video editing, GIS, etc.
• Creating an online form to allow faculty and students to request curricular-related help at a specific time.
• Having designated CTS/ITS staffing
• Training HelpDesk Consultants in CCL technologies
• Creating Help documents for use by CCL users
• Hiring regular professional staff

Bill will contact SACC for other suggestions. As suggested, Bill will also see about including MathLAN accessibility in the CCL.

The Committee agreed that pedagogy should drive the technology in the CCL, not the other way around.

Faculty Development Workshops: 14 workshops were held over the summer with 89 stipends awarded. There were a number of non-stipend participants as well.

Software Applications Specialist search: The previous search was unsuccessful. The focus of the position will now target one-on-one or small group work. The person will:

• Work with people on technological issues;
• Work on both academic and administrative sides of computing;
• Focus on coaching and training users;
• Have a BA and/or Masters degree

The search committee requests a representative from ISC. Keri will serve on the committee. Bill hopes to conclude the search within 6 weeks.

The Software App Specialist will differ from CTS and other ITS support.

• The CTSs focus on curricular applications in the classroom, including video editing. The SAS will focus more on office and individual or small group settings, including web and database issues.
• The Blue and Green teams focus on trouble-shooting. The SAS will focus more on training.

Classroom furniture in ARH and Carnegie: The majority of furniture in these classrooms is outdated and inadequate for the quality instructional environment we desire for our students. The furniture is mismatched and poorly maintained-sometimes to the point of being unsafe for use. Chairs are often shuffled between rooms because the number of chairs is inadequate. ARH 120 and 131 have new furniture and are now much more functional. The visual and acoustical qualities of the rooms have vastly improved. The rest of the complex needs to be redone. Optimally, chairs should be compact and have castors. Chairs in non-seminar rooms should have collapsible tablets.

Dan and John W. will raise this discussion at the Humanities and Social Studies division meetings on Monday, October 9.

PioneerWeb reconfiguration: ITS has created a more user-friendly interface. Advising and Registrar information are now on the Course Tab. There is also a direct link from each course to e-Reserves.

Plans to move materials from Burling to Science Library, Summer 2007: Science Phase II is scheduled to be completed in Spring 2007. Approximately 80,000 volumes will be moved from Burling to the Science Library after Commencement, though a firm date has not been set to begin. It is not clear how long it will take to make this move, nor how long each space will be unavailable -- hopefully not more than a couple of weeks. Richard will keep ISC informed as more information becomes available.

The Science Library includes space for both individual and group study, and is intended for use by the campus community-not just the sciences. It is the goal to have the Science Library hours mirror those of Burling, though actual hours will depend on budget.

Classifications previously held at the Science Library will return, along with others including Psychology and Math/Computer Science. Classifications: BF, Q, R, S, T (but not TR, photography) will be moved. [Post-meeting addition: GB (Physical Geography), GC (Oceanography), GE (Environmental Sciences) will also be moved). Relevant journals will also be moved to the Science Library.

Some non-science faculty have expressed concern that works used in their courses will be moved to Science (e.g., Freud, Jung), which could make it less convenient for students and faculty to do research. ISC acknowledged the concern but also noted that Burling and the Science Building are in close proximity and that interdisciplinarity might be fostered if more humanities and social studies faculty and students used the Science Library.

Capacity issues: The Science Library at opening should hold 100,000 volumes. Since 80,000 volumes will be moved, the space could be filled relatively quickly. The space is designed to accommodate compact shelving which would increase the capacity to 150,000 volumes. This expense will need to be budgeted for the future.

Removing 80,000 volumes from Burling will help alleviate crowding, but it is a temporary solution.. The Library acquires approximately 20,000 volumes per year, so the space gained will be lost within the next four years. The College needs to address this issue very soon.

Respectfully submitted,
Terri Phipps