Academic Support Committee
Annual Report, 2005-06
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Committee Members: Faculty: Keon Chi,
Bill Gillespie, Mike Heather (secretary), John Sadlon, Harold Tallant (chair) Students: Andrea Chadwick, Justin Estes, Zach Jones Ex-officio: Grover Hibberd, Mary Margaret Lowe Charge: “The Academic Support Committee reviews and
makes recommendations concerning policies of the College regarding equipment
and services which directly support the academic program.” The Committee met on the following dates: September
8, October 6, November 3, February 9, and April 13. At each meeting, the Committee received
reports about the ongoing operations of the Compared with the previous two years, the Library
had an improved budget for book acquisition in 2005-06, although funding
levels are still 29 percent below budget levels for 2000-01. The Library significantly increased (75
percent) the number of online database titles. Georgetown Faculty and Students now have
access to 33,000 full-text journals online, compared to 526 print
subscriptions. Following a national
trend, overall circulation of books has been declining over the past two
years, although the decline was offset this year by an increase in
circulation of NetLibrary e-books. The
LRC added thirteen new computers to the Reference Room. One new library faculty member and one new
member of the support staff were hired. This year, ITS replaced the
College’s Internet connection, a change that has resulted in a significant
improvement of service. However, the volume
of data on the campus network continues to increase rapidly. In a typical month, 11 million email
messages are handled by the email system, about 90 percent of which are
spam. Keeping up with the rapidly
increasing volume of data handled by the campus network and Internet
connection will remain a challenge. ITS upgraded 27 of faculty computers, and had perhaps its
best year ever in servicing student computers because of the creation of the
new student computer service agreement.
ITS installed computers and data projectors
in eight classrooms and established a goal of equipping all classrooms with
similar equipment by 2009-10.
Currently 64 percent of campus classrooms are equipped with computers
and data projectors. ITS is making preparations to upgrade the campus phone
system and to move to the Blackboard Academic Suite, a significantly enhanced
version of Blackboard. ITS hired two new professional employees, one a new
position and one a replacement.
Overall, ITS remains understaffed, a circumstance that limits the
ability of ITS to train faculty and staff and
creates challenges in maintaining the security and stability of the campus
network. Both the LRC and ITS developed new strategic plans
this year. Much of the Committee’s
work during the fall semester was devoted to discussing the development of
the College’s Information Technology Strategic Plan and relaying faculty
concerns and opinions to the IT Strategic Planning Committee. Both the LRC and ITS report that
implementation of the budgets outlined in their strategic plans is contingent
upon fundraising. |
