Montclair
State University
PCAffirmative Action 2004-05
Minutes
March 22 , 2006
Present : M. Brown (African American Caucus), M. Coleman-Carter (At-Large), S. Collins (University Senate), M. Colon (Latino/a Caucus), S. Davage (CWA), A. Gutierrez (Latino/a Caucus) J. Hain (Ex-Officio), J. Harris (ADA Representative), L. Jenkins (At-Large), D. Keiser ((AFT Local 1904), AJ Kelton (At-Large), N. Kotadia (SGA), C. Lange (Women's Caucus), L. Lemley (IFPTE Local 195), S. Lewis (Faculty), D. Lorenzo (At-Large), C. Meneghin (Professional Staff), B. Milton (Ex-Officio), O. Morales (LASO), D. Ragin (University Senate), L. Rodriguez (At-Large), O. Rodriguez-Srednicki (At-Large), S. Skalsky (Managerial), J. Slagle (SPECTRUMS), L. Smith (ADA Representative), & N. Trivedi (APIC).
Guest: K. O'Halloran (Graduate School) & C. Jones (Graduate School)
Constituencies Not Represented: Asian Student Group, GLFSA, OASU, Physical Plant, Secretarial/Clerical, & University Police.
The meeting was called to order at 12: 30 p.m.
Minutes of the January 25, 2006 Meeting
Harris motioned to approve the minutes; Slagle seconded. The minutes were approved as submitted.
Chairperson's Introduction
C. Meneghin introduced two guests - K. O'Halloran and C. Jones, from the Graduate School. Meneghin reviewed the agenda to see if there were any suggestions or additions to it.
Reading
Smith led a discussion of "Shame, Blame and Contamination: A Review of the Impact of Mental Illness Stigma on Family Members," from the Journal of Mental Health , 12/04
Chairperson's Report :
Meneghin reminded members to sign the attendance sheet.
She spoke about the need to form a nominating committee to elect new officers for the Executive Committee. She noted that most of officers' terms of membership on the PCAA were ending this year. B. Milton and Meneghin are discussing ways to insure continuity in the Executive Board.
Meneghin encouraged continuing members to volunteer to serve on the Executive Board.
There was a discussion of ways to better promote events and to encourage discussion, outside of the PCAA meetings, of issues we discuss. For events, Meneghin can put additional information into the PCAA web site on events that groups affiliated with the PCAA are sponsoring.
The PCAA discussed ways in which to encourage discussion. Members suggested placing short quotes about topics we discuss - as food for thought and with or without attribution - on the PCAA web site.
Graduate School Report :
At the PCAA's invitation, K. O'Halloran (Associate Dean in the Graduate School) and C. Jones (Assistant Dean in the Graduate School) came to talk to the PCAA about what the Graduate School is doing with respect to overall graduate student enrollment, enrollment of a diversified group of students in the graduate programs at MSU, and the status of graduate assistantships.
O'Halloran started with an overview of what is happening in the Graduate School. She said that the past year and one half has been a time of discovery for the Office as C. Jones and she have started to get a better sense of the meaning of the enrollment data the School collects. O'Halloran noted that graduate students come to MSU primarily to change or to further careers. Not as many students come to MSU as pre-doctoral students (to get a masters and then to enroll in a doctoral program at MSU or elsewhere), although in some programs we are seeing a growth in students who plan to get their doctoral degree after their masters. She also noted that most of our students are from New Jersey and from counties near to MSU, but that in some programs, we are beginning to recruit students from around the country.
The Graduate School enrollment plan is to reach a graduate enrollment of 5,000 students by the centennial. They are taking a more strategic approach to this by looking at which programs have the greatest capacity for growth in enrollment and which populations also have the greatest potential for growth.
O'Halloran then gave a detailed report on trends in graduate student enrollment, particularly for populations whose constituencies are represented on the PCAA. Some highlights of her report:
• From 2001 - 2005, total graduate enrollment at MSU increased by 13% and the number of new enrollments (first-time) have increased by 26%.
• Enrollment, during this same period, of groups represented on the PCAA:
• Total African American student enrollment increased by 17% and first-time enrollments increased by 21%, with the largest increase coming in the number of full-time enrollees (FT = +650%; PT = +7%).
• Total Asian student enrollment increased by 46% and first-time enrollments increased by 32%, with the largest increase coming in the number of part-time enrollees (FT = +14%; PT = +59%).
• Total Hispanic student enrollment increased by 44% and first-time enrollments increased by 32%, with the largest increase coming in the number of full-time enrollees (FT = +64%; PT = +41%).
• Total Native American student enrollment (five students) and first-time
enrollments were flat.
• Total White student enrollment increased by 9% and first-time enrollments increased by 20%, with the largest increase coming in the number of part-time enrollees (FT = +34%; PT = +40%).
• Total International student enrollment decreased by 13% and first-time enrollments increased by 42%, with the largest decrease coming in the number of part-time enrollees (FT = -5%; PT = -24%).
• At MSU, enrollment of students from all groups is growing at a rate greater than that of national graduate enrollments (when compared to eight-year trend data from the Council of Graduate Studies).
• An area in which enrollment has decreased has been in the number of non-degree students enrolled at MSU. Students of color remain under nondegree status at greater rates than white students, and are not moving to degree programs as much as the University would like. The Graduate School is also conducting research to determine the reason for the overall enrollment decline of non-degree students and its effect on the diversity of the student body.
She then spoke about sources of support for graduate students. There are three main sources of support: scholarships, on-campus positions as a graduate student worker, and graduate assistantships. She noted that scholarships are untapped resource for graduate students. In terms of graduate assistantships awarded, she said the number of assistantships by race/ethnicity have been roughly the same for the past three years.
O'Halloran asked for comments and suggestions from PCAA members. One member asked a question about the effect of the increase in graduate enrollment in the quality of students accepted. O'Halloran stated that there does not appear to be any decrease in the quality of students accepted by the Graduate School. She did note that departments also play a role in the acceptance process and that concerns about the quality of graduate students in a particular program are best addressed at the department level. She also noted that Graduate School admission counselors are using graduate assistant
Other suggestions and comments:
• A member suggested recruiting in Puerto Rico.
• The Graduate School is examining the feasibility of sponsored assistantships supported by alumni giving.
• They will monitor the effect of the expected budget cuts on graduate assistantships and graduate student worker positions.
• They are working with faculty to use grants as a way to support graduate assistantships.
Because another group was using the room, the PCAA had to adjourn before O'Halloran finished her presentation.
The Executive Committee will discuss what to do about the rest of her presentation.
The meeting adjourned at 2:00 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Luis Rodriguez
PCAA Recording Secretary
Montclair State University
Montclair, N.J. 07043, USA
(973) 655-4000
Webmaster@Montclair.edu