Agriculture Information Technology

Advisory Group (AITAG)

Ag IT Advisory Group
9:30 a.m. CDT, Thursday, Sept. 13, 2007

Fargo: Cindy Selstedt, Les Backer, Jeff Gerst, Becky Koch
Grand Forks: Margaret Tweten
Williston: Gordy Bradbury
Langdon: Randy Mehlhoff

Chair Randy Mehlhoff called the meeting to order.

Hardware Baseline

Jerry Ranum from ITS explained how AITAG had a few years ago recommended hardware specs rather than a three-year cycle for computer rotations. Now ITS recommends a four-year rotation. Computers don’t increase in speed and memory as quickly now, and they don’t break down as often. Many staff don’t understand the technical specs. Jerry said some four-year-old computers can be upgraded for part-time or student workers. All Ag computers are now ordered with a four-year warranty. Offices should budget for replacement every four years. Jerry said the Family Nutrition Program has developed a chart and budget for rotation every four years. Vista may not work on older computers. Jerry pointed out Vista isn’t recommended yet since it doesn’t work with all software, including Novell. It’s almost as economical to replace rather than upgrade computers now.

As far as we know, the N.D. Association of Counties is ordering with three-year warranties. We’re not sure about their rotation plan.

The four-year rotation suggestion won’t replace the technical specs. Those will still be publicized to let people know what new computers will include.

Les moved, Cindy seconded, that AITAG support a four-year rotation on computers.

Trickling Down Office Computers

Jerry said “trickle down” is when new computers come into an office, and the older ones are passed down to other staff. “Cascade” is the ITS program that disposes of computers. When a technician goes to an office to install new computers, the time is greatly increased to “trickle down” and move data. Computers ordered a year apart are nearly identical, and there’s not much difference over a couple years. If a computer doesn’t meet the Minimum Specifications for Current Computers at http://www.ag.ndsu.nodak.edu/policy/it/hardware.htm, it shouldn’t be trickled down. Margaret suggested working with Extension district directors on specific problems. Randy said the baseline should provide district directors and others with solid direction.

E-mail Transition

Deb Hegdahl from ITS said some generic e-mail addresses have been created in @ndsu.edu. County and RECs were completed first. Randy said, for example,
exp-lang@ndsuext.nodak.edu is still being used quite a bit instead of NDSU.Langdon.REC@ndsu.edu. Margaret said they’re making a concerted effort to use the new address in Grand Forks County. Counties in her district have been encouraged to update Web pages with the @ndsu.edu addresses.

Jeff said Ag departments have some exceptions to the regular naming protocol. Miscellaneous generic non-personal @ndsu.edu addresses just need to be proofed and the receivers informed.

Deb said Ag majordomo e-mail lists are in the process of being created in @listserv.nodak.edu. If Gail Hokenson from Ag Communication didn’t hear from a list owner in three tries, the list will be deleted. Some majordomo lists are combinations. Deb will work with Roger Egeberg to figure out these combined lists and to import subscribers, though some lists need to be updated. Whenever Deb creates a list, she sends a note on how to maintain it. The lists are generated on the Web, and there are help boxes. Deb creates a main owner, plus Roger, Jerry, Jon and Blair are backups. List owners have to decide if their lists are private (closed) or public. Messages to e-mail lists are limited to 1 MB, but if you need to send more, contact the ITS help desk. Lists can also be moderated, which means someone must approve each message before it can go through. List owners shouldn’t be expected to keep up both majordomo @ndsuext.nodak.edu and listserv @listserv.nodak.edu e-mail lists.

Cindy moved, Les seconded, that AITAG recommends majordomo lists disappear one month after the date the new lists are created. Motion carried.

TYPO3

Becky said Dave Rice, Dave Haasser, Mary-Anne Fiebig and she are in Web content management system training. Laura McDaniel in University Relations makes the decisions about naming conventions, so they need to visit with Laura and with ITS since Ag’s Web presence is so huge. A structure must be organized before anything can go live in the CMS. Becky will bring a draft structure to AITAG. The transition from regular Web pages to any CMS will be long.

Webconferencing

Cheryl Thompson would like to demonstrate Wimba to AITAG at the next meeting.

Sponsorship/Advertising on Web Pages

A product advertisement on http://www.ag.ndsu.nodak.edu/cropdisease/cropdisease.htm was brought to AITAG’s attention. Becky thinks there’s a contract with Bayer Crop Sciences for this placement. Cindy asked if this had been run past NDSU General Counsel Rick Johnson. She pointed out Rural Leadership North Dakota is sponsored by many companies and organizations, but the RLND Web site lists them as sponsors rather than advertises their products. Les asked about university policies. Did a contract go through Sponsored Programs or the Development Foundation? Les said some universities sell space for advertising in campus buildings, but they’re promoting the company as an employer rather than particular products. Randy said a producer might interpret that NDSU recommends this product, and he reminded how we try to remind clients of our research-based, unbiased information.

Jim Hammond sent Randy an e-mail that said he was adamant about not having advertising on Web pages. Margaret said tax-dollar supported entities shouldn’t be mixed with advertisements. The Ag Web Guidelines at http://www.ag.ndsu.edu/agcomm/web/webguide.html say no advertisements for specific products. Randy will contact Jack Rasmussen to learn more about this specific example, then we’ll discuss the issue at the next meeting.

Web Pages with Religious or Personal Info

Web pages at http://www.ag.ndsu.nodak.edu/aginfo/dairy/index.htm and http://www.ext.nodak.edu/county/burleigh/aghort/aghort.htm say “God bless America.” Cindy pointed out that this assumes all our clients believe in one God. Les pointed out that these are state pages, not personal pages. Randy will contact NDSU Chief Diversity Officer Evie Myers for her opinion.

Web Page Development Guidelines

Cindy suggested AITAG members review http://www.ag.ndsu.edu/agcomm/web/webguide.html and discuss the guidelines at the next meeting when Dave Rice is available. If these guidelines are supported by AITAG, they should be promoted more and linked from the AITAG page, not just Ag Communication.

Next Meeting
9:30 a.m. Central, Wednesday, Oct. 3

Agenda includes:
Videoconference baseline with Mike Miller
Web development software baseline and page guidelines with Dave Rice
Advertising, religious and personal information on Ag Web pages

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