DRAFT

Present:  John Egan, Vernon Faulconer, Patricia Finkelman, Anne Spence, and David White.  For the administration:  Frank Thomas

The committee discussed the reasons for its existence and during that discussion the committee agreed that the College would not change its goal of diversity but will possibly change how those goals are accomplished.  Vernon Faulconer stated that his preference is for the College to put financial and human resources behind the effort to recruit African American students.

Discussion then centered around the various definitions of diversity that Frank Thomas had collected for the committee’s discussion (a copy of the original is posted on the Blackboard website).  The committee eventually determined the following for the full committee consideration:

Grinnell College values all types of diversity and reaffirms its commitment to nondiscrimination.  For the College, diversity is that heterogeneity of our institutional makeup that represents, and includes, race, gender, social-economic background, ethnicity; political views, religious views, intellectual positions, and the international presence that reflects our multicultural world.

While recognizing the importance of a broad definition to encompass the various components of true “diversity,” the committee also expressed a strong desire to focus the Board’s efforts on the issue of improving Grinnell’s diversity in the area of race, and particularly with African-American students, faculty, and administrators.

The committee discussed at some length some of the means for accomplishing an improved diversity position for the College but came to no conclusions without the other members of the committee.  The committee did concluded that such a statement on diversity was necessary for the full Board to review and adopt as it would be the first formal statement of the Board’s commitment to accomplish the goal of diversity.

The committee discussed the proposed schedule for accomplishing its goals and toward the end of presenting a first report to the full Board at the Fall meeting.  The schedule would include, if possible, 2 telephone meetings per month through May, June, July and August.  Frank will consider some dates and post suggestions on the website.   It was also determined that the committee would like to hear directly from the faculty of color on the campus about their issues and concerns.  Frank will contact the faculty about obtaining such information.

The committee adjourned at 8:45 p.m.

Frank Thomas, Recorder