Present: Giovanni Cortez, Mary Phipps, Julie Owens, Laura Sinnett, Dan Kaiser, Michael Sims, Derek Moon, Kristin Lovig, Katya Gibel Azoulay, and Frank Thomas
The Committee held its first meeting of the 2002-2003 academic year. After introductions, the Committee discussed how it might wish to go about its business this year. It was determined that a survey be taken of issues and possible goals to accomplish this year. There was discussion of the language used for identification of so-called minorities of this campus. Kristin Lovig stated that she could supply the information as required by the federal government. The Committee suggested that it could work closely with Institutional Research to further refine the "naming issue".
A general question was raised regarding the reluctance of people to identify themselves with their particular ethnicity and was characterized as "Why is it that people don't feel safe?" This is an issue that goes to the "campus climate' and affects the retention of faculty, staff, and students.
In order to establish goals for the Committee, it was decided that certain information would be needed: Frank Thomas and Kristin Lovig would supply the Affirmative Action Guidelines, Search Summaries for current searches; student data from the Registrar and information on current faculty searches and chairs.
The Committee also discussed whether it might be beneficial to have a session where each member of the Committee would speak about issues of diversity-either negative or positive-affecting them or noticed by them around the campus. The goal would be to have the issues narrowed by seeing what matters are of concern to the Committee members. After some discussion, the matter was not resolved completely.
The next meeting of the Committee was set for November 8, 2002 and the members would review the data and information being supplied to continue discussion of a course of action for the academic year.
Respectfully submitted,
Frank Thomas
