General Meeting Information
Date: February 6,
20245
Time: 1:30 p.m.
Location: Zoom
-
Agenda
Time Topic Purpose Discussion Leader 1:30-1:35 p.m. Welcome and Introductions I/D All 1:35-1:40 p.m. Approval of Minutes I/D/A All
1:40-1:50 p.m. Website Improvements
I/D - Diaz
- Harrell
1:50-2:20 p.m. I/D All 2:20-3 p.m. Standing Updates
- AI
- Accessibility
- Banner Student
- ETS
- Online Education Advisory Group
I
- All
- All
- Galoyan
- Hadsell
- Nocito
A = Action
D = Discussion
I = Information -
Minutes [DRAFT]
Present
Stephanie Anderson, Samuel Bliss, Juan Diaz, Nazy Galoyan, Brandon Gainer, David Garrido, Alex Harrell, Sridevi Lakshmanan, Kevin Metcalf, Gabriela Nocito, Cheryl Owiesny, Mary Pape (Tri-chair), Fatima Zehra Shaikh, Dennis Shannakian (Tri-chair), Marisa Spatafore (Tri-chair), Chelsey Taniguchi (Notes)
Approval of Minutes
The December minutes were approved with minor edits.
Website Improvements
The Auto Tech management program's application was completed. (Harrell)
The conference and travel fund application form was completed. The system is a negotiated structure, with funding being district allocated. There is a different distribution for facuty members and classified professionals, so there is a committee that decides who gets what funding. This new form will streamline that work. (Harrell)
Owiesny asks if there is a size limit for document on the form. Diaz answers that it is 20 mb. Owiesny asks if the submitter gets a copy and Harrell responds that the submitter will get a link to view their submission.
The Web Team has changed the student voting system so that students can change their vote after submission. (Harrell)
Many Canvas developers have been working on Harmonize, a Canvas tool, because of all the complaints. Hadsell attended a pesonnel conference for Canvas and spoke up about how Canvas discussions need a lot of work (Metcalf).
Tech Committee Involvement in AI Projects
The Educational Technology Advisory Committee (ETAC) has a sub-committee that focuses on AI. Perhaps we can work with them on AI issues. (Metcalf)
The deans group just started a reflection on the book “AI for the Rest of Us," leading to discussions on operational impacts and theoretical implications. (Bliss)
The Committee on Online Learning (COOL) is charged with coming up with template for classroom policies on AI. (Nocito)
There will be a new data science class in 2025 and four to five new classes on machine learning in 2026. (Pape)
Technology Plan Updates
Goal
Description
Accomplishments
Goal 1: Increase Overall Student Access to Technology for Learning and Services
Includes but not limited to the provision of laptops for students, and other devices as necessary; software and software as a service (SAAS) as appropriate, both required and that would enhance the student experience; continuous technical improvement of communications resources including the website, app and portal; and classroom equipment to support student learning and engagement in evolving modalities, with classroom needs documented through updated classroom standards, program review and the Facilities Condition Assessment
- Updates to the DASG voting process are almost complete. (Pape)
- There is a pilot agreement with Harmonize, which is a tool for enhanced discussions in Canvas. It will be rolled out next quarter. It has AI features and can help with organizing discussions. (Nocito)
Goal 2: Increase and Enhance Faculty and Staff Professional Development and Training
Includes but not limited to robust training and related communication about the trainings based on faculty and classified professional feedback, including to holistically improve online pedagogy and pedagogy in the use of technology tools, including in evolving modalities and accessibility training
- The electronic form for Conference Travel Funds is in progress. (Pape)
- Office of Professional Development has a new, four-part series called OER. It is PGA eligible training for faculty that will start in March. (Bliss)
- Office of Professional Development will be hosting the Northern California State Training on LibreText. (Bliss)
Goal 3: Continue Work to Ensure Accessibility
Includes but not limited to implementation of SAAS to support an equitable teaching and learning environment; researching strategies and emerging technologies and implementing as appropriate; ongoing ensuring of accessibility in instructional and communications tools
Goal 4: Enhance Communication and Collaboration with ETS to Achieve Evolving Priority College Objectives
Strategy to include monthly small-group meetings of Tech Committee and ETS leadership, with updates as requested, on college-identified priorities including but not limited to
- Ubiquitous, functioning Wi-Fi, including on Athletics fields and in parking lots
- Upgraded technology for employees, including shorter personal technology refresh cycle of three years, as appropriate
- Improving communication, including of system and software availability and changes
- Development and support of peripheral loan program to address additional needs, such as doc cams, iPads for whiteboards, etc.
- College-identified projects that
- Directly affect student success or the student experience, particularly timely requests via expert administrators
- Address regulatory issues
- Hadsell advocated on behalf of the college at a Canvas personnel conference. He pointed out the work needed on Canvas discussions
Standing updates
Banner Student:
Fraudlent students are being continuously removed. ETS and Enrollment Services are launching a new model which has led to more students being check and verified.
The college is moving off of eLucien Cloud and onto Oracle infrastructure because we lost a lot independence and applications with eLucien. (Galoyan)
AB1111 patch for Banner is delayed for a month. When the new patch is ready (around Feb. 16) it should be prioritized on the production side because essential testing is necessary.
AB928 degree automation is in progress. When students sign up for an ADT, they are immediately presented with a degree plan. Foothill is looking at Smartplan, which has benefits for updating maps. (Bliss)
Online Education:
COOL is working on AI policies for the classroom. They will also go through another round of eLumen training and retraining. (Nocito)
Pape asks how RSI training is going, and Nocito answers that about 100 people are completely trained and about 25 people are in Part 1 and 280 people are in Part 2, so it is going well.
ETS Update:
Chien Shih is retiring at end of February, so ETS is in process of hiring an interim vice chancellor.
ETS also signed a contract with Oracle cloud infrastructure (OCI) for a new cloud solution, more control and stability and lower costs.
The WiFi expansion project will be rolled out in two phases. ETS is in the middle of phase one, with prep work being done. The actual installation of WiFi points will be in late February. After those are deployed, there will be testing and then more WiFi points will be added. It should be in quads, hallways and more. Outdoor areas will be part of phase two and are still in the design phase. The phase two bid will probably be brought to the June/July board and then will undergo construction. (Metcalf)
Nocito asks if there are maps on the website that show the expansion. Metcalf says he will try to find some information.