Historical note: it was on this date in 1649 that King
Charles I (pictured) was beheaded.
Getting information into the Daily Bulletin
It's been prepared by the University Computing Committee, as an update of the existing "directions" statement, which dates from 1989, and also as a working document for the UW Commission on Institutional Planning.
Says the draft report:
A common requirement in all activity areas is a well supported electronic workplace which is equitably accessible by all faculty, staff and students to provide the basis for effective use of information technology in their work and studies. This not only requires the coordination of computing facilities but also requires a strong system of user training and user support to capitalize on the benefits of information technology. This would facilitate efficient use of information technology by the whole university community. Recommendations are made to strengthen user training and support and to utilize the distributed human resources and talent to achieve these goals. . . .The UCC is calling for "an effective and coordinated management structure" for information technology and information systems, including computing services, data processing, audio-visual, graphic services, and even the library, all headed by a "senior manager" working with a University Committee on Information Technology and Systems.Equitable access, efficiency, and harmonization of institutional and individual requirements are the three main information technology issues facing the University at this time. Addressing these issues will be a complex task, involving changes in attitude, reallocation of resources, and rethinking how the University does its business. However, the rapid pace of technological change will continue, independent of the University's actions. If significant action is not taken, the University will become increasingly mired in outdated technology and lacking sufficient information technology human resources to achieve institutional goals.
It discusses computing for teaching, research and administrative purposes, and calls for "institutional standards" that would apply to all three. Another section of the statement deals with "electronic media ethics".
UW registrar Trevor Boyes -- who's taking early retirement himself -- said yesterday that he and his staff had conferred with deans and associate deans, among others, and decided to apply the two-week delay to preregistration so departments would have just a little more time to get things sorted out. "Hopefully all these things will come together," he said.
The undergraduate operations committee, made up of associate deans and registrar's officials, is due to meet Thursday, and it's not hard to imagine what they'll be talking about.
Boyes also said that the course offerings list, traditionally distributed on paper in time for preregistration, should be available electronically through UWinfo this spring for the first time.
Historical note: it was on this date in 1649 that King
Charles I (pictured) was beheaded.
Chris Redmond
Information
and Public Affairs, University of Waterloo
(519) 888-4567 ext. 3004
credmond@watserv1.uwaterloo.ca
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