QUESTION AND ANSWER SESSION
OCTOBER 8, 1997

     1.  What are the details being proposed for Help Desk support?

Local campus Help Desks will be maintained while enhancing service with 24x7 central support. Employees will remain CSUH staff; CSU will contract with CETI to provide the additional services back to the campuses. No change in HelpDesk software being proposed at this time, but may be more effective for all campus Help Desks to run the same. Campuses will work together as a team to determine changes.

     2.  Is there a list available of data communication vendors besides the major players? 

Some have been identified, but no list is available at this time; look for one next year. Team has been focusing on what the architecture looks like, supporting legacy systems, and how to transition for the future.

     3.  To what extent does documentation exist down to the topology level?

About 3 - 6 months early with this question, but in general will use fiber optic cabling throughout campuses, high speed Ethernet local area networks, ATM interconnections between campus buildings, and satellite links. Where practical, existing equipment will be integrated.

     4.  Does CETI share the core values of the CSU?

Yes, and hopes to enhance the mission of CSU through this partnership. CETI will actively promote the CSU within their corporations as the vehicle for employee education.

     5.  CSUH information technology has moved from a homogeneous to a heterogeneous enterprise.
          Will CSUH lose its individuality with CETI?

CETI is all about providing a foundational infrastructure to support individual campus needs. This is a reasonable concern and it is important to know it up front, say it out loud, and protect against it. Industry side is sensitive to this because of shared cultural history, individual divisions much like individual campuses.

     6.  To what extent is CSU aware of the individual business goals (product marketing) of the companies.
          comprising the GTE team?  

Good exchange of information about this issue during GTE Team's presentation of their expectations of the partnership. Issues were worked through as the critical success factors were addressed.

     7.  How will CETI affect hardware and software acquisition strategy and current contracts?

Existing contracts have to run their course. CETI will be in business as an entity apart from each of the individual businesses; when conflict and disagreements arise, CETI will make its own decisions and may decide on other companies to get the best deal. Details are being worked out now; get your input on the table quickly.

     8.  CETI revenue-generating ideas are the same as those of CSUH University Advancement to varying.
          degrees, but the revenue comes back to CETI. Will CSUH lose funds or be in competition with CETI?

Concern well-founded, each campus is trying to fill in the revenue gap as well -- this concern was "first out of the box" by the CSU Presidents! It is CETI's intent to enhance revenue generation, not take over what is currently in place. CETI will have to learn how to navigate a path to generate new revenue.

     9.  How will conflicts of interest be handled between the partners?  

CETI governance board will balance interests and resolve conflicts.

   10. What are the different CETI development teams and how can we participate and provide input?  

Refer to SIP URL: http://its.calstate.edu/sip.

   11. What is the timeline for services to be offered to all faculty and users?

High speed access into the network will be addressed the first year. Timeline will be developed over the next few months.

   12. Intellectual property rights?

Will comply with the intellectual property rights guidelines published by the CSU.

   13. Will the $122M CSU already spends come off the top and go to CETI and will the campuses lose their
          choice making?

The $122M will stay in place in the CSU. CETI will concentrate on infrastructure buildout. Potential partners were told at the onset that the CSU was a disparate organization. There will be some CETI standards for baseline items and campus input will be invited.

   14. Will individual campus network projects become totally CETI driven?  

GTE desires to have a CETI team on each campus interacting with the campus and getting to know their individual needs.

   15. What are the specific dollar amounts for each component of ATS Access, Training, Support?  

Have not been set yet. Approximately 25% of funds for Training Support.

   16. Since CETI will be a corporation, what about partner takeovers?  

As a corporation with shares, shares can be bought and sold.

   17. What are the year one products?

In the works.

   18. What about connectivity for students from home?

Hughes satellite will come into play here. Need to provide access from home as good as have in the office.

   19. What sequence of events will occur within the next several months pertaining to CSUH?  

Master Agreement will be signed in December then work will begin with individual campuses. Peter Quan (CSULA Information Resources Management) will be setting up a couple of planning sessions for near-term needs. CSUH annex plan will be developed with campus staff after January.

   20. Do the annexes have scope of CSU's buying? Will freedom of choice and exclusivity exist at same level?  

Campuses have already accomplished 20% of the infrastructure buildout. Principle CSU presented to industry partners baseline set of requisitions need to meet exclusivity; campuses continue to have autonomy above baseline.

   21. Is Business Plan available on Web now?

No, but it can be copied for evaluation and comment.

   22. Is updating labs and library equipment still a top priority?

Negotiations in process.

   23. If corporation goes public, will stock options be available?

Stock options may be available.

   24. How justify exclusivity to CETI?

Legalities have satisfactorily been met.

   25. On the Human Resources side, how will lines of authority be defined with multiple management input?

No decisions yet. All will be subcontracts. Allegiance will be to own company.

   26. How will CETI's performance be measured?

Methods of measurement not in place yet. Principles set up by CSU whether CETI successful. CETI responsible to shareholders.

   27. Will the campus be requested to integrate CETI Service Level Agreements into ours?  

CETI has no standard SLAs now.  We'll start where we are and build.

   28. Will CETI make it easier to get a hold on new technology as it rolls out?

There will be avenues through CETI to acquire new technology. CSU may become beta site for products and applications for technology in education.