Present: Dr. John Olson, Brian Neuenschwander, Jesse Gomez, Georgina Perez, Kat Myers, Dr. Anthony Firulli, Dr. Leo Maxwell, Anna Maloy, Brian Cartee, Rhon Buxton, Judy Hopper, Elaine Demps, Lynda Howell, Jim Barrett.

1. Dr. John Olson, chair, welcomed the members, and said the committee's work in the next year would focus on many elements of the university website, including accessibility, navigability and ways to evaluate its effectiveness. He asked for the webmaster's report.

2. Jim Barrett, webmaster, said:
   • The university had acquired two new domains, www.uthscsa.info and www.texashealth.info.
   • A new security policy on campus requires people starting a new web server to make sure their server and operating system have up-to-date security "patches." Dr. Anthony Firulli said the university would be wise to require Macintosh servers because of their reputation for security.
   • Computing Resources could help website operators meet new state rules for secure transactions. The rule requires a Secure Socket Layer on the web server, and encryption of personal data sent by form across the web.
   • He would like the committee to consider adopting a web accessibility policy at its December meeting. He distributed a draft.

3. New Business, Webmaster's Report Item
   In his report, Barrett also said the university is considering adopting an internal web portal, and cited an Oct. 10 demonstration on campus about portal products. Barrett said several Health Science Center people as well as representatives of other Texas universities viewed portals produced by UT Austin and PeopleSoft.
   Barrett introduced Brian Cartee, director of Administrative Computer Systems Implementation, and Rhon Buxton, director of Management Information Systems, to describe how a portal decision relates to the Health Science Center's own PeopleSoft project to modernize and replace campus-wide administrative and business systems.
   Cartee said PeopleSoft has "bundled" many "self-service" components of the new system with a portal template. Self-service refers to portal features where employees or students can access their personal records, and do transactions. Cartee said the components would enhance the functions of existing and soon-to-be-installed parts of the PeopleSoft systems. The portal, he said, would help integrate the web-based components for desktop users, and improve report distribution to users and navigation between the components.
   Olson asked if there are specifications for the portal because he would like to know what user needs have been identified. Cartee said user issues had been examined when the university compared the usefulness of PeopleSoft's business/administrative systems with competitors two years ago before buying the PeopleSoft suite of applications.
   Barrett asked if the portal could be customized to include features and applications in addition to links to PeopleSoft applications. Cartee said it could. Leo Maxwell said he would like the faculty to have enhanced access to information about prospective students who want to enroll. Olson asked Cartee if he thought the committee could play a role in the selection process of a portal and its features. Cartee said yes. Barrett said he would like interested members of the committee to be able to be testers of the PeopleSoft portal. He said the PeopleSoft portal could be tested first-hand if the university acquires it with the other components Cartee mentioned.
   Olson said he would like to discuss user needs for the portal at the committee's meeting in December. He also said he would meet with Cartee and Barrett next week to discuss user features of a portal.

4. New Business
   Olson said he would like the committee to be concerned in the next year about evaluating usability and effectiveness of the Health Science Center web site. Olson said he would appoint a subcommittee led by the library to examine these issues and make recommendations. He invited committee members to contact Barrett or him if they want to participate. Olson said he would contact Virginia Bowden of the library and Barrett about member selections.
   Olson also asked members, "What do you think we should be spending our time on this year?" Jesse Gomez said information security concerns him. He said he is particularly concerned about keeping employee information confidential even it it is accessible on the web.
   Olson encouraged the members to communicate other goals to him.

5. Adjournment
   The committee agreed to reconvene Friday, Dec. 21, 9:30-10:30 a.m., in the conference room in Computing Resources. The meeting was adjourned at 10:30 a.m.