Computing & Information Services
Computing Policy Committee Minutes
March 26, 2003
4 - 5 pm
ETC 309
The CPC can be contacted at computing-policy@reed.edu
Present: Ethan Benatan, Ann Delehanty, Vickie Hanawalt, Ethan Jackson, Vickie Hanawalt, Leslie Limper, Karen Perkins-Butzien, Chris Rempel, Jon Rivenberg, Marty Ringle, Tristan Trotter
Absent: Paul Gronke, Ed McFarlane, Peter Steinberger
Theft/LossDamage Policy change: The committee approved a suggestion by Ed that the fee for damage/loss due to negligence be changed from "$500" to "50% of the total cost of replacement/repair." Tristan will make these changes on the CIS website.
Mass Emailing Policy: The CPC developed guidelines for mass emails several years ago. CIS has drafted some "how-to" information for the community on this process, and Marty and Ethan did a brief overview of this document. (Draft copy enclosed with these minutes.) There was some discussion of the means of dissemination of this information to the community, including a proposed once-a-year reminder in the form of a meeting (with very good refreshments), or possibly a mass-email. It was agreed that the substance of Reed's policies around mass-emailing (i.e., that it is not forbidden, but strongly discouraged except for urgent or emergency information) is good; now the focus needs to be on educating the community about the procedures for sending a mass email, should the need arise.
Email Client Testing: Ethan gave a brief overview and some examples of new email clients that are being considered by CIS as possible successors to BlitzMail. All CPC members have been set up with imap accounts, and are highly encouraged to participate in the testing. The committee also suggested that the Reed community as a whole be polled on a) any suggestions they have of other clients CIS should consider in the testing process; and b) what features and functions (i.e., spam filtering, bulletins, address book, etc.) they would particularly look for in a new email client. Ethan emphasized that CIS is committed to making the transition to a new package as smooth and painless as possible. The move away from BlitzMail is projected to take at
least a year - with incoming freshman in 03/04 given accounts on the new imap server. CPC members should contact Ethan for more information on getting their account information and beginning the testing process.
ISP Update: Marty informed the committee that three providers are currently being evaluated as a replacement for Earthlink. They are: ISPWest, Quik, and Pacifier. All have national coverage and all offer some degree of user support. The selection will be made by the end of April and the transition to the new provider will take place during late April to early May. Unfortunately, Earthlink has refused to give Reed the option to renew on a month-to-month basis at their preferred rate of $13/month. We would be charged, instead, $22/user/month for this service - which we consider to be unacceptable. So a choice of a new ISP provider will be made within the next couple weeks.
TAC Meeting Briefing (MR): Tabled until next meeting, on April 16, 2003, 4 p.m. in ETC 309.
Last modified: October 15, 2003