The Faculty Senate discussed academic and administrative support and shared governance in technology Tuesday, without proposing specifics for a new committee.

However, senate members did agree on creating the university committee, which has not yet been named.

The Academic Technology Advisory Committee and Computer Technology Planning Committee composed of faculty, student and staff representation are the two existing groups on technology.

Mike Hoadley and Mihir Chatterji, assistant vice presidents for Information Technology Services, spoke to the senate on technology, following up from information presented in November.

Most senate concern surrounded the idea of a committee membership and technology grants.

Chatterji, who assumed his position last semester, said changes have progressed optimistically in technology.

“We have a somewhat steady network now … at least the network is staying up,” he said.

The computer help desk has moved to the Gregg Triad with longer night hours and speedier response times for computer assistance, he said.

More bandwidth has been added to handle network traffic. Less complaints have been heard from an academic perspective but response has not been as positive with student housing.

“It is due to a lot of abuse of the network,” he said.

Chatterji said technical problems still exist with the Web CT.

Hoadley said April 29 will be considered Technology Recognition Day to show more exposure of technology.

The main need with a third committee is faculty representation, especially with deciding money distribution on faculty grants.

Journalism professor James Tidwell proposed three committees in place of one of the existing technology committees, one to focus on the distribution of funds from student fees.

Eastern’s Board of Trustees approved a contract for Eastern’s faculty University Professional of Illinois labor union Tuesday. The contract gave provisions to a computer privacy policy.

The senate formed a subcommittee to focus on the same issue, which reported Tuesday the policy outlined in the contract supersedes any recommendation the committee would have formed, said Barbara Lawrence, associate chemistry professor and senate member.

Faculty now have the “strongest protection” for research and information stored on university computers, Lawrence said. The policy states the university can intervene in such cases as viruses and technical problems, she said.

The senate approved two faculty members for the Distinguished Faculty Award, established in 1979.

Psychology professor William Kirk and foreign languages professor Luis Clay Mendez were named.

The senate also nominated associate political science professor David Carwell to a search committee for the chief of police at the University Police Department. The committee is still forming.