Terms of Reference

The Networking Group (UCISA-NG) is primarily concerned with the monitoring and promotion of the communications network, associated network services and network security.

Its membership consists of those senior staff in member organisations who have executive responsibility for networking in the organisation and who are known collectively as the “Networking Correspondents”.   The group is led by a Committee, known informally as “UCISA-NG-Com”. 

The primary roles of UCISA-NG-Com are:

• To provide advice and information to members of UCISA on all aspects of electronic communications including data, voice and video.
• To provide advice and information to members of UCISA on all aspects of network security with due regard for the activities of JANET CERT and JISC JCN.
• To act as a forum for the discussion of networking and security matters within the community represented by UCISA.
• To represent the UCISA community on appropriate external bodies and to establish and foster links with related groups such as JISC-JCN, for example.
• To act as a liaison between members of UCISA and JANET(UK), the UK MAN Managers group and other appropriate bodies. UCISA-NG will supply representatives on these groups who will be charged with responsibility for reporting back to UCISA through UCISA-NG. UCISA-NG-Com also has cross membership with the UK MANs group.
• To establish working parties to investigate specific issues identified by UCISA-NG and the UCISA Executive. Wherever appropriate, these working parties will collaborate with other appropriate bodies.
• To organise workshops within the UCISA framework and timetable for the purposes of communication, education and debate on networking and security related topics. These will be particularly designed to appeal to the UCISA-NG members-at-large.
• To track and advise on developments in new networking areas as the industry develops.

Membership of UCISA-NG will be by nomination of members of UCISA. The chairman is elected by  UCISA at its AGM, and will be a member also of the UCISA Executive Committee. Members of the steering committee, of which there will be about 12, are selected to represent the various interests of UCISA members, will be appointed for a three year term. In addition, JANET(UK) is invited to send representatives to attend at meetings of UCISA-NG-Com, as are other UCISA sub-committees.

(Revised June 2006)