Purpose

The Technology Committee shall monitor the technological aspects of the Graduate Assembly and shall propose ways for the Graduate Assembly to use technology to further its mission. It shall establish policies that govern the use of and placement of content on the Graduate Assembly’s website. It shall also establish policies that govern the use of other Graduate Assembly technology. It shall work, on behalf of the Graduate Assembly, with any entity or individual that provides support for the Graduate Assembly’s technology.

Strategic Plan

Graduate Assembly IT Strategic Plan.
Graduate Assembly Communications Strategic Plan.

Members (2008-2009)

Bradley Froehle (Chair)
Isaac Murchie
Karl Rohe
John Sylak
Iris Tien

Committee Reports

No report – next meeting, TBA

What follows is a list of highlights from the last Technology Committee meeting. [1]: Reviewed the delegate feedback forms to create a list of the unmet IT needs of graduate students. This list was then forwarded to Shel Waggener, Berkeley's CIO. At our next meeting we will discuss how to move forward to get these goals accomplished. [2]: We discussed different open-source content management systems which might replace our current website. We recommended that the GA purchase Zoomerang, an online survey application, for use by the executive positions and the projects. [3]: We revised an on-going `Communications Strategic Plan' which when completed will outline general strategies the GA should use to best communicate both internally and externally.

The technology committee last met on Tuesday October 7th. We discussed: [1]: The creation of a `Communications Strategic Plan' which will guide the GA in its communication both internally and externally. The plan will lay out principles and specific recommendations. After the plan is written we will work with the various arms of the GA (Projects, Committees, etc) to ensure that the recommendations are implemented. [2]: Final revisions to an `Information Technology Strategic Plan' which covers the computing infrastructure within the GA (email, website, business office computers, etc), requirements of the end users, principles to guide future decision making, and a list of short-, medium-, and long-term goals. [3]: Technology needs and wants of graduate students, and how to effectively communicate those to the administration. The technology committee is currently soliciting input for: [*]: Ways in which the GA can do a better job communicating with the student body. Do you have strong feelings about Mass Emails, advertisements in the Daily Cal, the Funding Guide, our Website? If so, please contact tech@ga.berkeley.edu. [*]: Technology needs and wants of graduate students. Have any ideas on projects IST could undertake which would benefit graduate students? How about an inexpensive system to backup your personal laptops? Or a system for organizing student-run conferences? Or ...? Please send ideas to tech@ga.berkeley.edu.

The Technology Committee met on September 16, 2008. This year we will be:

• Working with Graduate Division and the Library to allow electronic submissions of dissertations.
• Asking the Library to upgrade their software systems to a more modern and unified platform.
• Developing a report of computing needs and wants of graduate students.
• Improving the GA website layout and functionality.
• Investigating systems for online submissions for funding applications.
• Writing a Communications Strategic Plan, encompassing how the GA communicates both internally and to graduate students at large.
• Polishing an IT Strategic Plan outlining short, melong term goals for the GA's IT Infrastructure.

Meeting Dates & Notes

Spring 2008
February 20: Agenda
March 13: Agenda
April 10: Agenda
May 8: Agenda

Fall 2008
September 18: Agenda
October 7: Agenda
November 18: Agenda and Minutes
December 9: Agenda

GA/IT Meetings

September 8: Minutes
August 11: Minutes