Windows Vista is the hot topic today for the Academic Technology Advisory Committee.

The committee is in charge of gathering and interpreting data about the various technological devices and making recommendations to the board of trustees. They commonly deal with the servers, computers and software on campus.

The budget for the meeting includes an update on WebCT, Banner and server virus issues.

Discussion topics include the addition of Windows Vista to certain computers on the campus.

Chat Chatterji, assistant vice-president for information technology services, said he expects most computers that are ordered will continue to be XP machines. He said some vice presidents have banned Vista in their offices, except by special request.

“People will not want to be on the bleeding edge of Vista,” he said.

Michael Hoadley, assistant vice president for academic affairs for technology, said that he wants as much input from the campus as possible, so ATAC can be sure it’s doing what the campus wants and needs.

There is a discussion plan, but the staff leaves time for visitors to discuss what they want, Hoadley said.

Chatterji said that although the meetings center around the committee member’s discussions, the meetings are open to the public. But there is normally a low turn out by campus members, he said.

Bill Witsman, director for Banner, said that coming to the meetings are a great way for the campus to influence what the technology departments should do.

The committee will meet at 2 p.m. today in Room 4440 of the Booth Library.