Montclair State University
PCAffirmative Action 2004-05

Minutes
May 31 , 2006

Commission
Constitution

List of members

Committees and
members

Meeting schedule

Upcoming agenda

Minutes

Policies and
Proclamations

MSU related links

Other related links

Annual Advance

Minutes of the April 19, 2006 Meeting
Harris motioned to approve the minutes of the April 19, 2006 meeting; Lemley seconded.   The minutes were approved as submitted.  

Annual Report
Meneghin said the annual report was in draft from.   The caucuses and other groups represented on the PCAA were invited to submit a section for the report.

Nomination Committee

The Committee (Brown, chair; Harris; and Lorenzo) submitted the following slate of candidates:

•  Meneghin (Chair)

•  Ragin (Vice chair)

•  Smith (Corresponding Secretary)

•  Rodriguez (Recording Secretary)

There were no other nominations submitted to the Nominating Committee prior to the Advance.   Brown asked if there were any nominations from the floor.   None were submitted.   Kelton motioned to accept the slate as submitted; Harris seconded.   The motion passed.

Chair's Report
Meneghin provided background on the PCAA to new members.   She talked about the PCAA   standing committees and asked every member to be on a committee.   She also discussed the shared readings and how we use them to provide a common experience to all PCAA members.   The discussions about the shared readings are not put into the PCAA minutes to facilitate an open exchange of ideas and experiences.

"Game of Life"
The members next participated in the "Game of Life," which was facilitated by Rick Brown and his colleagues.   The "Game" gave us an experience of what it is like to be powerful and/or powerless.

Break-out Sessions

Members were asked to join a group representing the standing committee on which they would like to serve.   They were asked to name a chair or co-chairs for the committee and to begin discussing plans for the upcoming year.

Representing a Constituency
Meneghin urged each constituency to have a member at every PCAA meeting.   She said constituencies that encounter a problem having a member present at PCAA meetings should talk to Milton or Meneghin to see what can be worked out.

Meeting Time
A long discussion followed on the date and time to hold the general meeting.   It was agreed that Wednesday from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. was the time that worked for most PCAA members.

Standing Committee Goals for AY 2007
The chairs of each standing committee summarized the discussions during the break-out session (based on meeting notes, information provided after meeting to the PCAA chair, and other material):

Executive Board

Members

Cindy Meneghin, Chair
Deborah Ragin, Vice Chair
Linda Smith, Corresponding Secretary
Luis Rodriguez, Recording Secretary
Leslie Jenkins, Treasurer
Donna Lorenzo, Programming Chair
Chairs and co-chairs of standing committees
Barbara Milton, ex-officio
Judith Hain, ex-officio

Committee Members
Meneghin reported that the Executive Committee discussed the theme for Affirmative Action Day.   The theme will focus on the blurring of racial identify and the browning of America and how these affect affirmative action.

The Executive Committee will also make a concerted effort to fill gaps in representation of constituencies on the PCAA.  

The Committee will try to resolve the issues that came up in AY 2006 on parking and transportation services for persons with a disability.

_________________________________________________________

Mentoring Committee

Committee Members:

Margaree Coleman-Carter, Co-Chair
Esmilda Abreu, Co- Chair
AJ Kelton
Larry Lemley
Carole Lange
Angel Herbert
Cindy Onore
Karen Seagraves-Pender

Description:
The committee will continue to promote Thank Your Mentor Day in January and work with the Women's Caucus.

The Committee's main focus for the year however, will be primarily on the questionnaire and its four goals below:

1. Find out what people know about mentoring and their general interest.

1. Gauge people's perceptions to whether they have been mentored or are currently being mentored.

1. General sense of people's knowledge of how /where to access mentoring programs on campus.

1. Create small group of volunteers for focus groups to discuss more specifically mentoring experiences and challenges.

Goals for 2006-2007:
We discussed the importance of more Physical Plant representation and attendance, as well as the continued importance to promote development opportunities for support staff. Via the questionnaire we hope to gauge general campus, knowledge involvement and needs regarding mentoring.   Focus groups will provide more detail of experience, challenges and needs that people may have around issues of mentoring (especially support staff).

The information obtained from the focus groups will help us determine the next step in the long-term goal of raising awareness of, and access to, mentoring opportunities at MSU.

(Outcome Expected)

1. Provide vehicle by which to educate the campus about mentoring

1. Clear sense of interests and needs regarding mentoring

1. Identity pre-existing programs initiative that would answer stated needs and interests

_________________________________________________________

Education Committee

Committee Members:
James E. Harris, Co-Chair
Jeremy Slagle, Co-Chair
Jennifer Garcia
Sylvia Sims
Richard Williams
Mayret Velasquez

Description:
The Education Committee sponsors and conducts programs and activities to inform the Montclair State University Community about pertinent and timely information relative to Affirmative Action at Montclair State University.

The Committee explores issues and concerns that surround affirmative action and equal employment programs, practices and activities.   Special attention is given to presenting opportunities for students to gain insight and understanding of current attitudes and responses to programs designed to implement programs to create equality, justice and fairness in all aspects of the University.

The Committee recruits individuals and organizations to support all aspects of the annual Affirmative Action Day in order to include participation in an organizations fair which displays information about diversity at Montclair State University.

During the last few years the Education Committee has sponsored "Conversations about Affirmative Action at Montclair State University."

Goals for 2006 - 2007

1. Consider sponsoring monthly programs on a "theme" of the month.
2. Analyze MSU's publicity, advertising and outreach to see how representative it is of the diversity of the campus.
3. Support Affirmative Action Day.
4. Introduce parents of new students to the meaning of affirmative action at MSU.
5. Sponsor a presentation on the characteristics of students, staff and faculty at the University.
6. Do outreach to high school students on the theme of college being easier than they think.
7. Sponsor seminars on how to prepare for being upwardly mobile.
   

______________________________________________________

Recruitment and Retention

Members:
Ofelia Rodriguez-Srednicki, Co-Chair
Michael Brown, Co-Chair
Steven Davage
Danné Davis
Chiaho Chang
Aditya Adarkar
Carolyn D. Jones
Angel Gutierrez

Goals for 2006-2007

1. Obtain and analyze report on faculty by rank, ethnicity, gender, physical condition, sexual orientation, and age

1. Inquire and report on status of the faculty two-for-one initiative

1. Obtain update on the status of the Physical Plant Department (post training and inclusion initiative)

1. Investigate and clarify search committee procedures

1. Publish standard procedures on-line
2. Urge uniform compliance

1. Prepare statement of concern about accessibility and gap in financial aid assistance during period of budget cuts to higher education in New Jersey

1. Seek clarification on MSU's position on staff retention, promotion, and job consolidation in light of NJ budget cuts to higher education

Respectfully submitted,

Luis Rodriguez

PCAA Recording Secretary