Montclair State University
PCAA 2002-03

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March 27, 2003

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Present: C. Meneghin, L. Lemley, R. Halaby, D. DeBlasio, L. Rodriguez, H. Gera, M. Carter, I. Barreria, L. Smith, J. Ficki, I. Caprio, L. McInerney, N. Firoz, K. Dennis, J. Harris, L. Wise, B. Milton, M. Brown, T. Jacobowitz, J. Hain

Absent: E. Isaacs, Q. Dent, J. Rivera, S. Vallejo, S. Shah, N. Connolly, H. Perez, C. Ortiz, D. Rogers

I. Call to Order
Chairperson T. Jacobowitz called the meeting to order at 12:10 PM.

A. Minutes
A. No minutes were taken at Affirmative Action Day, so no action was necessary.

B. Readings
With Vice Chair N. Connolly absent, we tabled discussion on readings until the April meeting. The readings are from Sex, Race, and Merit is pp. 230-231, 236-251, 310-322.


II. Committee Reports

A. Status of Women - M. Coleman-Carter
Contact was made with Shenita Brokenburr of Human Resources regarding the use of the PAR Developmental Plan. The data has been collected and is currently being analyzed. Some members of the support staff are concerned that PAR’s are being used to discriminate against workers on the basis of age. They complain they are receiving poor evaluations as compared to positive evaluations in past years. PAR’s should be used to improve performance by setting goals and recommending ways of achieving them. The Commission will seek clarification about this issue from VP Hain.

Women’s History Month is underway with an array of events scheduled. It was announced that the Health and Wellness Fair will take place on Tuesday, April 8.


B. Status of Minorities - J. Harris
The committee of 3 met recently and they are seeking more members to serve.
Currently the committee is focusing its work on comparing the MSU Profile By Gender and Ethnicity of Full-Time Employees for all Job Classifications as of October 2001 and October 2002 published by the Office of EO/AA. The committee made the following observations:

- While there were increases and decreases in Black employees in the different categories there was no overall growth in the total number of Black employees. (See appendix)

L. Rodriguez asked the committee to investigate the trades by ethnicity. J. Harris responded that the committee also plans to analyze the causation for increases and decreases in the job classifications by both ethnicity and gender.

VP J. Hain clarified the University’s position on hiring in the context of NJ budget cuts in higher education in 2004. All vacancies are being analyzed to see if they are mission critical. There is currently no absolute job freeze at MSU. The President, Provost and VP HR monitor faculty candidate pools and indicate that they are outstanding. D. DeBlasio also agreed that the recent candidate pools are particularly outstanding. Many candidates far exceed the minimum qualifications. C. Meneghin asked the Commission and those involved in searches not to abandon diversity when very qualified candidates eclipse qualified people of color, i.e. qualified vs. more qualified.

C. Recruitment and Retention - L. Rodriguez
The committee will review an employee exit interview instrument via e-mail. The committee was scheduled to meet last week, but was forced to cancel.

L. Rodriguez asked J. Ficke if she was able to collect better information as to why faculty leave since exit interviews are not required. She responded that she often receives reasons from departing faculty directly or from their deans and department chairs. The University recognizes there are tensions within academic departments and those tensions may have contributed to the departure of two Latino faculty because of issues arising related to their ethnicity. VP Hain said that the University does not tolerate hostility towards protected classes. She reported the departure of two tenured faculty members because they evidence hostile behavior towards colleagues and students. C. Meneghin indicated that the campus needs to know that action was taken. Most of us live under the impression that complaints are not acted on or the complainer is branded as a troublemaker.

L. Rodriguez suggested that faculty of color with environment complaints use tenured faculty from their respective caucuses as advocates. Likewise, professionals should seek senior administrators as their advocates in troubled environments.

III. Old Business
A. Retention of Latino/a Faculty
This issue was addressed in the Recruitment and Retention report.

B. Physical Plant
T. Jacobowitz stated that the Consultant's report was comprehensive and addressed all the PCAA's concerns regarding the Physical Plant. She distributed an excerpt of the report that will be discussed at the next meeting. Commission members should review the excerpt that distributed and discuss at our April meeting.

The executive board is concerned that there hasn’t been representation by representatives from the Physical Plant Department except L. Lemley.


IV. New Business
A. Hearing from the Caucuses J. Harris
The caucuses have unanimously agreed to make presentations at the PCAA meetings.

B. May Advance
T. Jacobowitz suggested that the caucuses chairs be invited to the May Advance and make presentations and assist us in setting next year's agenda. The newly proposed date is Tuesday, May 13. C. Meneghin will poll the membership via e-mail for availability.

C. Report on Diversity Issues in Higher Education Statewide
Get On the Bus! The NJAAAHE in concert with other civil rights organizations is sponsoring buses statewide to go to Washington on April 1 when the Supreme Court hears the University of Michigan case. PCAA members are urged to participate in this historic event. A bus will be leaving from The College of NJ at 4 AM. Contact B. Milton (President of NJAAAHE) for further information.


V. Other
A. Notices have gone to caucuses requesting nominations for PCAA appointment next year. New appointees should attend the May Advance.

B. C. Meneghin reported the lawsuit for same sex marriage is sponsoring town meetings around the state and they have been well attended. She thanked GLFSA for its co-sponsorship and support. Meneghin also publicly thanked acknowledged President Cole for support her as a plaintiff in the case

C. Next Executive Board Meeting: April 10 12 noon
Next General Meeting: April 24 12 noon

Adjourned at 1:55 PM

Submitted,

Michael Brown
Recording Secretary