Montclair State University PCAA 2001-02
Minutes
September 20, 2001
Present: T. Jacobowitz, M. Brown K. Dennis, L Rodriguez, L. McInerney, I. Caprio R. Baylor, R. Aldridge, P. Kirby, L Wise, J. Hain, N. Connolly, B. Milton, C. Meneghin, B. Terry, K. Key, E. Abreu, O Rodriguez Srednicki, M. Coleman-Carter, R. Sharps, C. Ortiz
Absent: J. Baldwin-LeClair, T. Hutchines, R.Young, J. Mamamaro, P. Anderson, S. Jamison, S. Shaw, D. Chryssovergis, N. Firoz, J. Harris, I Barriera, M. Cunningham, J. Ficke, H. Gera, S. Kight
- Focus on the work of the Committee on the Status of Women.
- Support the Division of Human Resources in its development of a search process.
- Concentrate on the goals and objectives of each standing committee.
I. Call to Order
Chairperson T. Jacobowitz called the meeting to order at 12:05 PM. President Cole, who was scheduled to be off campus, greeted the Commission. In light of the recent disaster of September 11 and its aftermath, she felt it necessary to stay on campus today. After thanking the Commission membership for agreeing to serve, she impressed upon us that this body had an important role in helping the campus persevere through these difficult times. MSU has a special obligation as an academic institution to be a model for facing crises. The campus has pulled together and we've support each other. However, the characteristics like celebrating differences dissipate in these critical times. It is the job of the PCAA to create an environment that allows us to exchange views and foster respect for each other regardless of national origin and religious heritage. The PCAA needs to be vigilant and in the forefront in leading the campus in an educative mode.
Dr. Cole indicated that V.P. Pennington and the Division of Student Development and Campus Life has taken the lead in monitoring and addressing the psychological, emotional, and safety needs of students, especially those of our Arab (and perceived to be Arab) students. There have been verbal threats and hostilities against them on campus and in there journeys to and from campus. For safety reasons, some students and their parents opted to stay home, while others, despite the risk, refused to be intimidated and came to school. After her remarks, Dr. Cole left the meeting.
This crisis also has implications for faculty and staff. VP Hain shared some information about a few unpleasant incidences involving faculty and staff. After describing an incident within her office, she offered assistance from Human Resources to managers and supervisors who need help in resolving conflicts among employees resulting from suspicions about terrorism due to national origin or religion of a co-worker.
L. Rodriguez asked how the Commission might assist faculty and those who have no training to to deal with emergencies such as this. K Dennis and C. Meneghin indicated that the Commission members could provide information about agencies and places to lodge complaints and receive validation. They have access to information and hotlines that they will share with the PCAA, so the PCAA can provide these kinds of support to the campus community.
The next order of business was for members to introduce themselves, the constituency he/she represented, etc. A special welcome was extended to the new members of the PCAA.
Minutes of the May 17 Advance were reviewed.L. Rodriguez moved for adoption and C. Meneghin seconded. Minutes were adopted.
II. Charge
Minutes of the March 15 were approved with corrections of typing errors in I-C. Moved N. Connolly and seconded by L. J. Baldwin-LeClair. April 19 minutes were approved with typing correction in I-C and deletion of "Questions are:" in II-A. Moved by L. Rodriguez and seconded by N. Connolly.
On behalf of President Cole (who expected to be off campus), VP Hain deliver the annual charge to the Commission. She prefaced the charge with the reminder that the PCAA had a broad moral imperative of exercising a voice of equity and reason on campus. She also stressed the need to begin plans for our annual day early, keeping in mind the recent events. The PCAA needs to set the tone and promote an atmosphere on campus for free discussion and expression of views.
This year the PCAA should:
The Human Resources Department has pledged to support the Commission in all aspects of its work.
III. Committee Reports
A. Status on Minorities
B. Terry
The committee was scheduled to meet on September 11, but the meeting
was cancelled due to the startling event of the day. However, B. Terry
indicated that his committee was interested in gathering data about
specific ethnicities and groups. Chairperson Jacobowitz asked the Committee
on the Status of Minorities to be responsible for increasing the safety
for threatened groups with regards to terrorism for the Commission.
B. Status of Women
M. Coleman-Carter
M. Coleman-Carter reported on the meeting between President Cole and
the women of the support staff regarding their concerns. Dr. Cole endorsed
two professional development days, one that coincides with University
Day on October 24. Dr. Vincent Tinto's workshops on student retention
will also be geared to support staff. Two problems are anticipated -
office coverage and getting support staff to participate. Support staff
needs to be studied with regards to their concerns of inequities, lack
of promotional opportunities, and lack of inclusion and input in office/campus
decisions. Dr. Cole had a meeting with managers where she shared these
concerns on behalf of support staff and urged managers to be inclusive
in decision-making processes.
C. Recruitment and Retention
R. Sharps
This committee was active this summer. It interviewed four of the five.
Deans. Their new tenure-track hires ranged from 8-20 per school. Next
year they anticipate 10-26. The committee is still working on collapsing
the responses for the questionnaires. One of the needs expressed unanimously
by the Deans was for good public relations materials to use for faculty
recruitment. The committee's report should be ready for the October
meeting.
IV. Old Business
A. Final Report 2000-2001
Chairperson Jacobowitz distributed the PCAA Final Report for 2000-1001.
B. Status of computer Access and Training for Physical Plant Employees
This discussion was tabled due to lack of PP representation at the meeting
to report on the issue.
V. New Business
A National Affirmative Action Day
-
a. C. Meneghin has approached student organizations about contributing
toward prospective speakers.
b. T. Jacobowitz recommended that we consider speakers about Islam in order to educate the campus to understand that the terms Islam, Arab, and terrorism should not connected. She suggested that a scholar like Professor Ronald Takai could engage a campus audience. However, his fee may be very expensive.
c. The date the PCAA is considering is February 22, 2002
B. Committee Planning
At the conclusion of the meeting, each committee convened to establish
regular meeting dates and times. The committees were asked to meet prior
to the executive board meeting, so that committee chairs' reports would
to be included in the general meeting agenda.
C. Conference Announcement
B. Milton Our own President Cole will be a panelist at a Diversity Issues
Conference on Friday, November 2 at Rutgers, Busch Campus Center. The
conference is scheduled for 8:30 AM - 2:45 PM. The PCAA will pay registration
fees for members. Please contact B. Milton by October 12 if you wish
to attend.
D. Readings
Race, Sex, and Merit, our next reading assignment, has not arrived yet.
In the meantime, Chairperson Jacobowitz distributed a 9/11/01 New York
Times article entitled, "Professors at the Color Line" for
discussion at the next meeting.
Barbara Milton also shared two reading that demonstrate strong public support of affirmative action and diversity and the other was a summary of recent affirmative action cases.
L. Rodriguez informed us about Lexis Nexis, a full text database geared for law students. He said that is very understandable and suggest it as a resource for us to keep abreast of legal issues regarding affirmative action.
E. Next Meeting
Our next scheduled general meeting is Thursday, October 11 at 12 –
2 PM in the President's Conference Room, College Hall. The Executive
Board will meet Tuesday, October 2 in CO-301 at 12-1:30 PM. Meeting
adjourned at 1:50 PM.
The next general meeting is November 8, 2001.
Submitted,
Michael Brown Recording Secretary