 "Photo: Priscilla Reyna-Ovalle")
 "Photo: Priscilla Reyna-Ovalle")
A revised district computer security agreement was presented to the College Academic Council Tuesday, but members still disagreed with some of the language.
Psychology Chair Thomas Billimek objected to wording concerning breaching confidentiality of access codes by negligence, saying that it needed clarification on who decides what is “negligence.”
He also protested the requirement to abide by the district’s policies and procedures that include restrictions on computer use for anything other than college or district purposes.
He said that even though, “I can use my home computer for work,” employees cannot use their work computers for something as small as online banking.
Billimek continued, “I’m not going to sign it if it’s vague.”
Usha Venkat, director of technology and communication, who presented the revised agreement, said the district allows “incidental use” of computers by employees, though others found that term vague.
Jorge Posadas, director of student life, said, “A lot of nice stuff comes up when we pull up cheerleader” in a search engine, when searching for cheer uniforms. As council members laughed, he explained that this is an example of computer use that could be misconstrued and illustrates the need for clarification.
In addition, Posadas suggested a department chair or supervisor should determine what constitutes negligence.
Librarian Candace Peterson objected to what she called a confidentiality agreement in the document that she said had nothing to do with computer security.
This college’s president, Dr. Robert Zeigler, said administrators will try to get some answers to these concerns.
In a report from the Curriculum Review and Evaluation Committee, Vernell Walker, dean of professional and technical education, said the kinesiology and dance department at this college is to add KINE 1338, Concepts of Fitness and Wellness, to the college inventory.
The CREC report stated that the class will be accepted by the University of Texas at San Antonio’s transfer plan and is already offered at the other four colleges.
She also said that the history and humanities department proposed a new Associate of Arts degree, which she said will be listed as “with a concentration in history.”
The change, according to the report, is to help students who aspire to becoming a social studies teacher at the elementary level or secondary institutions.
In other news, Tim Rockey, dean of continuing education and training network, said the problems at this college concerning motorcycle parking have not been resolved.
“They’re still making a decision of corner lots,” he said, referring to safety concerns by the district department of public safety.
The question has been raised during past meetings of whether motorcycles had permission to park in the vehicle spaces of the garage.
He also said some discrepancies exist among the colleges about the purchase of motorcycle permits and he is waiting for a district clarification. Academic Council brought up the idea of having a designated area for motorcycles in the garage to prevent them from parking elsewhere but still giving them the privilege of parking in the shade.
Zeigler reviewed the Capital Improvement Project closeout Nov. 6, saying, “There are a couple of colleges that came under budget.”
“Those were general, in open spaces, didn’t have to work around other buildings,” he said. This college did not come in under budget.
He said funds from the 2005 bond issue could not be transferred among colleges.
The progression of the Accreditation Review Committee was also discussed during the meeting. Co-chair Jeff Hunt, theater and speech communications chair, said the next meeting is Nov. 20 because of busy schedules of members.
The committee was put together after the board charged Chancellor Bruce Leslie to review if the district is better off as one or multiple colleges. The committee is to report in December.
Rockey said, “It’s a wash,” he said in referring to whether single or joint accreditation is more advantageous.
Hunt said that the committee doesn’t yet have all the data.
Much of the information in areas such as grants and special designations for individual colleges depends on the governance structure after a merger.
He said they asked Leslie how the governance structure would be if the colleges merged but Leslie has not provided that information.
The committee has until Dec. 8 to report the findings.
Be the first to comment on this article!