C&C's central web servers are now hosting over 300 WCB classes per quarter (faculty participation is voluntary). Moreover, faculty are beginning to incorporate additional WCB features into their classroom efforts. WCB "Forums" are becoming increasingly popular (posting of an issue, question, or "challenge" and inviting student feedback, analysis and discussion).

During last year's budget process, C&C received funding for a third Instructional Technologist; this individual was recently hired and will start work at the beginning of February. These Instructional Technologists assist faculty in the deployment and utilization of technology in the classroom. During Winter Quarter 2000, C&C's Instructional Technologists are partnering with two Economics professors on the complete re-design of an Introductory Macro Economics class as well as an upper division Research Methods class. Although the focus of the redesign is non-technological classroom pedagogy, C&C is assisting with taping of lectures and dissemination of this video via Cisco's IPTV server; C&C has championed the use of "Multi-Media Classroom in a Bag" by TAs; C&C has facilitated the very active use of WCB forums (both classes have over 350 enrolled students); and C&C has made public microcomputer labs available for teaching of various computerized statistical and analytical tools.

C&C is partnering with the Statistics department as well as the College of Natural and Agricultural Sciences in the development of a Mutli-Media Statistical computer lab.

This 30-seat lab will feature hardware from Robotel Canada that will allow faculty to completely control student's desktops, including the presentation of video material and "digital" overhead presentations.

Importantly, C&C hopes to use Cisco's IPTV server to allow multiple 30-seat labs to be connected via UCR's intranet. TAs would proctor remote sites while faculty presentations would be multicast to the remote labs. C&C expects this lab to be on-line by fall, 2000.

This effort is a very important part of C&C's on-going efforts to assist faculty in the utilization of Instructional Technology.

UCR's new Fine Arts building will hopefully be completed by fall, 2000. C&C is partnering with the College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences (CHASS) in the deployment of a Multi-Media production and instruction facility. This 30-seat facility will be used by Fine Arts (and other departments) as an instructional lab in the morning; the facility will be available as an open access lab in the afternoon and early evenings.

The Center for Visual Computing (CVC) is heading up a C&C interdepartmental effort to develop an on-line course submission and modification system. Pro-forma web pages are currently available for this application.

This system will allow faculty to input course information into a series of web pages that will "flow" through academic departments, to college offices, the Academic Senate, and the Registrar's office. Ultimately, the course data will be incorporated into UCR's course catalog.

This system will be developed using an Oracle database and Microsoft Active Server Page technology.

This is a very important effort for C&C. It is part of a new C&C initiative to utilize skills and techniques that have traditionally supported campus administrative applications in more direct support of campus academic needs.

UCR's two on-campus residence halls have been successfully added to UCR's network and over 2,500 nodes have been added to the campus intranet (2 10/100 connections per room). Wiring was outsourced to a private contractor; all electronics were acquired, configured, deployed, and tested by UCR staff.

UCR will be deploying a wireless campus WAN during the next 6 to 8 months. In all probability, the vendor will be Aironet. The initial implementation will be an 11 Mbs wireless "corridor" from the residence halls, through the Engineering and Science Library buildings, and encompassing the entire Commons area. This initial effort is a joint effort between C&C and Engineering as a prerequisite to requiring Engineering students to own laptop computers.

C&C is attempting to upgrade all campus network connections to switched 10/100 Mbs by the end of FY 99/00. A large number of Cicso switches will be deployed during the next six months in an attempt to remove all Cabletron hubs (serving about 20% of the campus) from service.

UCR has purchased the UCR (827) prefix. Planning has begun to deploy the prefix during the next 12 to 18 months. UCR will, in all likelihood, retain the 787 prefix for use in the campus residence halls.

Communications Planning and Strategic Budgeting Continues UCR hopes to replace its existing phone switch during the next 18 to 24 months. Current vendors participating the budget development include Nortel, Inacomp , NEC, and Cisco (as a strictly Voice over IP alternative).

UCR is evaluating long haul point-to-point wireless (45 Mbs) as a solution for providing network services to remote student housing complexes. UCR will be hosting a presentation / discussion with Cisco during the next several weeks.