Academic Technology Advisory Committee (ATAC)

Charge & Purpose

The Academic Technology Advisory Committee (ATAC) is an Academic Affairs advisory committee providing feedback and governance to Academic Technology and other campus-wide IT functions that impact teaching, learning, research, and scholarly/creative activities. It additionally connects to the campus-wide Technology Governance program. 

The former Educational Technology Advisory Committee (ETAC) was established over 20 years ago to engage faculty on technology initiatives, services, or activities related to their teaching, learning, research, or scholarship/creative activities. The committee had been charged through Academic Affairs to serve as an advisory committee with membership from each College and the Library appointed by their respective Deans and included ex-officio members from Academic Technology, ITS, and DPRC. The committee engaged through monthly meetings, working groups, and special projects.   

During 2018-2019, the campus undertook an IT strategic planning process which recommended a replacement governance body. With that expectation, the ETAC committee ceased activities and informally disbanded. The final strategic plan produced by MB2 consultants recommended an “Educational and Research Technologies” committee as part of a larger IT Governance Structure with a scope of providing strategic input on areas such as:  

• the learning management system and widely used academic software,  
• learning space technology,  
• support for technology-enhanced teaching,  
• research computing,  
• and library systems.  

ATAC was established to fill this IT governance function. 

Membership

As an Academic Affairs Advisory committee, ATAC’s work is coordinated through the Assistant Vice President of Academic Technology, reporting on key issues or recommendations as appropriate to the Vice Provost for Academic Resources and the Provost.  

Members serve annual terms and include up to two faculty members (or Assistant/Associate Dean) per College (appointed by the Dean or selected by committee), up to two Library faculty members (appointed by the University Librarian), and ex-officio members from IT and related service organizations. A chair is selected each academic year to help organize meetings and coordinate with the Assistant Vice President of Academic Technology on agendas and key issues. 

The chair or a designated member will serve as an ATAC representative on the campus-wide Technology Governance Committee for an up-to-two-year term.

Meetings

• Meeting frequency – Monthly during active semesters. The Committee will determine modifications to the meeting schedule as needed based on current activities. 
• Time Commitment – In addition to the scheduled meetings, members occasionally spend 1-2 hours between meetings reviewing related material. 
• Meeting structure – The facilitator or a designee will collect agenda items and circulate agendas in advance of each meeting to ensure informed discussion of scheduled topics. 
• Reporting – The facilitator will report on decisions. 
• Documentation of proceedings – All meetings will have notes of discussions, recommendations, and action items. 
• Voting – The committee is advisory and will generally discuss issues and seek consensus on issues or questions.  As needed, a voting quorum is 51% of voting members; one vote per member. 
• Sub‐Committees/Working Groups – Additional ad hoc sub‐committees or working groups may be established to work on specific projects or topics as needed.  
• Committee Support – Academic Technology will provide administrative support as needed. 

Policy Responsibilities

The committee may review and provide feedback on campus IT practice directives, Academic Affairs or Academic Senate policies that impact IT processes or practices, or guidelines/practices established by units related to services impacting teaching, learning, research, or scholarly/creative activities.