Montclair State University
PCAA 2003-04

Minutes
March 25, 2004

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Present: T. Jacobowitz, C. Meneghin, I. Caprio, L. McInerney (alt), C. Stachelski, M. Brown, L. Smith, J. Harris (alt), I Barriera, M. Coleman-Carter, C. Ortiz, L. Rodriguez, J. Hain, B. Milton, M. Guervil

Absent: R. Halaby, R. Ross, L. Rosario, J. Dennis, L. Santiago, C. Caceres, R. Cartagena, M. Drozjock, N. Trivedi, N. Connolly, H. Perez, D. DeBlasio, J. Ficke, H. Gera. D. Rogers (on leave)

Welcome
Meeting called to order by Chair T. Jacobowitz 12:10pm

Motion to approved Minutes H. Gera, seconded by J. Ficke.

II. Evaluation of Affirmative Action Day
T. Jacobowitz asked for observations on this year's Affirmative Action Day. Everyone seemed to be pleased with the day. C. Stechelski was commended for promoting student participation. Jonathan Alger's message was commended for its timeliness and indepth analysis of the University of Michigan decision by the U.S. Supreme Court. His clarification of the concepts "tokenism" and "critical mass" was appreciated.

Some suggestions including for improving the program next year included involving more classes, beginning the planning process earlier moving Affirmative Action Day to the fall semester so we could include Freshmen Experience classes, video taping the event, earlier announcements of the day. These suggestions will be considered for future Affirmative Action Days.

III. Committee Reports
A. Education Committee (J. Harris)
The committee has decided the language of Affirmative Action has changed enough to justify updating the campus. Once example was the use of the words "goals," "quotas," and "critical mass." They agreed the PCAA should be updated first and extended to the campus at large. It was suggested the PCAA could be updated during the 2004 Advance.

B. Mentoring (M. Coleman Carter)
The Mentoring Committee met in February. MCC note there has been some difficulty in members making the meetings. The summaries shared by the Recruitment and Retention committee were reviewed. The committee discussed how to use the information gather concerning mentoring. Dr. Reginald Halaby shared with the group an informal mentoring program in the Biology department. Senior faculty are paired with new faculty upon entering the department. The committee plans to invite Dr. S. Kight to a meeting to hear more about the program. Iris Barriera stated she was pleased to hear about the biology departments program and suggested we build on it's model. L. Smith suggested that there is a great deal of informal mentor going on at the university. Tina raised the question, if considered faculty mentoring or staff. She also spoke about the definition of mentoring and how it denotes hierarchy. Tina proposed we consider another term. M. Carter stated the group will meet to discuss our recommendations to the commission.

C. Recruitment and Retention (L. Rodriguez)
The committee has completed its meetings with the different constituencies. They will now prepare a report to share with the PCAA. Once the PCAA has approved the report it will go forward to the President with the recommendation it be forwarded to the campus at large for input and comments.

IV. Old Business
A. Update on Domestic Partnerships Information Sessions (J. Hain)
VP Hain reported the NJ Department of Personnel hasn't developed the implementation plan yet.

However, she will meet with GLFSA today at 4 PM. The plan is for Human Resources to join with GLFSA in presenting information sessions on campus.
C. Meneghin added that Lambda Legal will hold an information session in Trenton in May on domestic partnerships and same sex marriage. She further commented that the waters are extremely muddy on the issues of domestic partnership and same sex marriage as laws vary from state to state.

V. New Business
A. 2004 Advance
Themes for May 25 Advance and Affirmative Action Day 2005 were suggested. T. Jacobowitz announced topics recommended by the executive board:

Affirmative Action: Language, Laws, & Direction for May 2004 Advance
and
Civility vs. academic freedom for Affirmative Action Day 2005

After discussion, the Commission decided which topic to discuss at which event.
She further suggested that we use the Abbott and Costello Conference Room in the Residential Village as a site for the Advance. The Commission agreed if the facility was available.

Other suggestions for the Advance were planning for next year and reflecting on our individual positions on Affirmative Action and diversity. We as members of the PCAA can't assume that we hold the same views. It important that we take time for introspection. Such a discussion will be high risk, but we to rely on civility to govern our conduct. We charged with representing our constituencies and not just our individual views.

On the other hand, we need to spend time planning. All the Commission's work this year was based on the planning from last year's advance. We can't abandon the opportunity to plan for next year. C. Meneghin suggested the Commission ask the caucuses to write priorities for 2005. T. Jacobowitz suggested that the PCAA review caucuses' goals from last year and evaluate what has been accomplished by the PCAA towards achieving them and report back to the caucuses. Then, ask the caucuses to develop new goals or continue with old goals that have not been fully achieved. We didn't reach agreement on either plan.

B. The reading for the April 22 meeting will be The Educational Value of Diversity, by Jonathan Alger.

Corresponding secretary Meneghin will send the article out again online.

VI. Other
L. Smith discussed parking for people with disabilities. Lots formerly reserved for this purpose have now been returned to general use. In addition to inadequate parking space, the handicapped parking shuttle is overburdened and unable to meet the growing demands of the population.

Disabled people also are being ticketed illegally, because campus police and the parking services ignore the NJ law that allows disabled people to only pay once for the time limit of the meter if they properly display their handicap stickers. T. Jacobowitz agreed to devote one hour of the Advance to the handicapped parking issue

VII. Adjournment
The meeting adjourned 2 PM.

Submitted,
Michael S. Brown, Sr.
Recording Secretary