| Description | Minutes of the committee established for the start of the 1989-1990 academic session to replace the University Committee on Computers (see UB/COM/69).
Membership consisted of the Pro-Vice-Chancellor with responsibility for IT (chair); the Director of the Centre for Computing and Computer Science; the University Librarian or deputy; the Director of Management Services; the chairs of Faculty Computing Committees or other nominated representatives; the chair of the Administrative Computing Users Group; the chair of the Library Users Advisory Group; a representative of the Centre for Computer Based Learning; and two student representatives
The committee's terms of reference were to be the central co-ordinating body for developments in Information Technology across the University; to make recommendations on the University's strategy for the development of Information Technlogy to the Pro-Vice-Chancellor with responsibility for IT and to consider the strategic, planning and resourcing issues involved in such developments; to prepare initial proposals for Information Technology resourcing through the University for consideration by the Pro-Vice-Chancellor's srategy and resources group for Information Technology, prior to submission to the Strategy Planning and Resources Committee; to monitor and evaluate the effects of the University's plan for IT and to oversee the progress of developments approved under the plan; to ensure that the views and requirements of the Faculties were adequately reflected in the University's strategy for IT development; to consider proposals on the acquisition and/or development of major computing resources for submission to the Universities Funding Council, the Computer Board for Universities and Research Councils and other outside bodies; and to submit an annual report on its activities to the Senate
Minutes typically include discussion of staffing and financial statements of the Centre for Computing and Computer Science; discussion and papers on the high speed campus network, also called the Campus Communications Network; discussion of University computing strategy; information about the provision of microcomputers and teaching clusters; information about major initiatives; and copies of reports from user advisory groups and reports of working parties
Minutes of the first meeting of the committee, held on 23 October 1989, include papers proposing the establishment of sub-groups and working parties of the IT committee, consisting of the Monitoring and Planning Group for the Campus Communications Network, the Technical Advisory Group for the Central Purchasing of Computing Hardware and Software; and the Working Party on Information Services, as well as references to the proposed establishment of a Working Party on the Television and Film Unit. These minutes also include papers on the future of the Universities Funding Council Computer Board for Universities and Research Councils
Minutes of the meeting held on 5 February 1990 include copies of the business plan for the Television and Film Unit; the business plan for the Centre for Computer Based Learning; and the draft institutional plan for IT, as well as papers on staffing requirements for computing. Minutes of the meeting held on 9 March 1990 record discussion about microcomputer clusters, the connection of remote areas through the Campus Communications Network, and staffing requirements for the distributed computing environment. Minutes of the meeting held on 5 November 1990 include a copy of the 1989-1990 Annual Report of the Information Technology Committee to the Senate, and the 1989-1990 Annual Report of the Centre for Computing and Computer Science , as well as the Computer Users Advisory Group Annual Report 1989-1990. Minutes of meetings held in 1990 also discuss the rolling plan for IT, the replacement of microcomputers and workstations, and plans for the development of the Campus Communications Network
Minutes of the meeting held on 28 October 1991 include a copy of the Annual Report of the IT Committee to Senate 1990-1991; the Annual Report of the Academic Computing Service 1990-1991; the Computer Users Advisory Group Annual Report 1990-1991; copies of leaflets for students on computer purchases and 'IT Fundamentals...a Literacy Pack; and copies of the minutes of User Groups.
Minutes of the meeting held on 23 January 1992 include reports on microcomputer cluster provision, and discussion of the revised Information Technology Rolling Plan; a copy of a paper on Information Technology in the Life Sciences; a report from the Centre for Computer Based Learning; and the report of the Multi-Media Interest Group. Minutes of the meeting held on 18 May 1992 include discussion of the terms of reference of the Information Technology Training sub-committee; a copy of a paper by Professor Jarratt entitled 'Technology in Teaching and Learning'; further papers on the IT Rolling Plan and the Campus Communications Network operational report; and minutes of User advisory groups. Minutes of the meeting held on 2 November 1992 include a copy of the Strategy Planning and Resources Committee status report on the High Speed Campus Network; a paper on the Introduction of an Administrative Network in the University of Birmingham Library; and a paper on campus electronic mail (email) and the use of international standards and protocol. There are papers relating to Information Technology Rolling Plan and a copy of a report entitled 'Beyond Lectures: The Report of the Information Systems Committee Courseware Development Working Party' by the Universities Funding Council Information Systems Committee
Minutes of the meeting held on 15 February 1993 contain further papers on the University Library Electronic Mail pilot project, as well as recording discussion about microcomputer cluster provision, and the campus communications network, and include copies of reports from sub-committees and user groups. There is also information about European Community Procurement Directives, and a reference to a review of the Information Technology Committee in response to changes in funding and the disbanding of the Computer Board at the Funding Council which meant that there was no longer a need for a forum for discussion and representation of user views at the point of decision on the purchase of major systems, and the changing needs of the University now that responsibility for IT was becoming devolved, IT systems were being widely used, and cheap and user-friendly microcomputers were being used by non-technical users. The last meeting of the committee was held on 7 June 1993, and these minutes state that University IT policy now focused on Information Services and how they supported the work of the institution, and less on the systems for delivery. It was acknowledged that there was a need for the Schools to review and implement their own approach to information infrastructure with changes to Funding Council policy on funding IT, and requirements would now be raised through the Strategy, Planning and Resources Committee. The minutes record that an Information Services Group was being established to foster co-ordination across the University, and membership would include the Vice-Principal; Registrar and Secretary; Librarian; and the Directors of the Academic Computing Service and Management Services. An IT Forum would also include Heads of non-academic Budget Centres or a member of staff acting with delegated authority. Students' views would be fed into implementation plans at School level. The minutes include a paper on the role of the Information Technology Committee, recommending that it is disbanded, and setting our a proposed new management structure for IT involving an IT Executive, an IT Forum, and Special Interest Groups. The minutes also discuss linking the University High Speed Campus Network to Super JANET |