Victor,

    There was a videoconference support group, Media Resources under Library and Learning Resources, but you're right: it was funded as income/expense rather than general fund and wasn't able to bring in enough income to support operations. I believe it was dissolved at the end of last academic year.

    I think both Steve and Raymond have access to funds for conferences like this if they consider them to be worthwhile, and EPSCoR, at least, had made a significant investment in videoteleconferencing equipment a couple of years ago. I'm more concerned about departments that could/would use videoconferencing but don't have the funds for initial investment or the technical expertise to "roll their own". And I agree that this is an area in which the University should have central support.

    But I think this is a neglected service area because of the income/expense approach, and it was income/expense precisely because there were no central funds to support it as a cost-center service. It hasn't been viewed as an institutional priority.

    As the University divided responsibilities a few years ago, this wasn't a service area that ETS was tasked or staffed to support. A number of us are involved with videoteleconferencing and believe that the University should leverage that technology more effectively, but it's not something we're in a position to pick up to support. Much to our frustration. We do know a reasonable amount about the area, but we don't have focused support staff.

    We're starting a strategic planning process, focused first on academic technologies, and I'll try to work this in as one of the areas to be discussed.

    But thanks for the vote of confidence, thinking that ETS could command an additional half-FTE to support this. Wish it were true.

David

On 9/14/10 9:27 AM, Victor Rossi wrote:

[log in to unmask]" type="cite">This would be very good for our dedicated, UVM Videoconferencing support person to attend, if we only had such a person..

The two campus experts in this are Steve Exler of Epscor & Raymond Forsell of Tech Services, but to my understanding, videoconferencing support is a secondary role for them. Still, they are nice guys who are very generous with their time.

It would be nice if someone with a *nice central budget* could send one or both to conferences & training session where their impressive skills could be kept concurrent with the times. It would be even nicer if a group like, say ets, could dedicate at least a half position to this [as it is done in every other university in the land..]

sorry for the rant - emergency videoconferencing support is a recurring & bitter memory...

***

Geoffrey Duke wrote:

FYI. —Geoff

*From:* [log in to unmask] [mailto:[log in to unmask]] *On Behalf Of *Lisa DiMauro
*Sent:* Monday, September 13, 2010 12:32 PM
*To:* [log in to unmask]
*Subject:* [Announcement] NERCOMP - Videoconference Technology - Oct 25

Dear Friends,
Registration is now open for NERCOMP's upcoming workshop:
*"Videoconference Technologies, Service, and Support: Can You See Me Now?"**
* DATE:
October 25, 2010

TIME:
9:00 - 3:00 (Coffee and Registration start at 8:00)

PRICE:
NERCOMP Members: $130, Non-Members: $260

LOCATION:
Skidmore College
815 North Broadway
Saratoga Springs, NY

DESCRIPTION:
There are so many videoconference solutions to choose from. Free and proprietary, desktop and web-based, and high performance high definition devices made by vendors such as Tandberg and Polycom. While organizations take different approaches to videoconferencing, it is an important IT collaboration that at a minimum requires product evaluation, equipment recommendations, training, and support. As videoconference use increases, careful planning is required in order to invest in reliable communication tools for instruction and virtual meetings. On the front-line, technologists provide recommendations and technical assistance to faculty and administrators. On the back-end, network systems administrators assure connectivity and monitor bandwidth usage. Front and back-end coordination is essential for a small staff to provide this service. Colgate University, St. Lawrence University and Skidmore College will report back on the current status of videoconferencing on campus. How are videoconference tools used optimally to support different needs, goals, and disciplines…now, and in the future?

For a full schedule and registration information, please go to:
http://www.nercomp.org/events/event_single.aspx?id=6321

We would be grateful if you would pass this announcement on to friends and colleagues who might find it of interest.

To view other SIGs events, click here: http://www.nercomp.org/events/upcoming_events.aspx

Thank you very much. We hope to see you on October 25th!

Sincerely,
Lisa DiMauro
NERCOMP