Montclair State University
PCAA 2002-03

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September 27, 2002

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Present: L. Lemley, C. Matteis, J. Harris, I. Caprio, L. McInerney, R. Aldridge, R. Baylor, L. Wise, I. Barreira, L. Smith, D. DeBlasio, C. Fitzpartrick, N. Connolly, C. Meneghin, M. Brown, B. Milton, D. Rogers. L. Rodriguez, M. Coleman-Carter, C. Ortiz, K. Bledsoe, T. Jacobowitz, C. Cole

I. Call to Order

A. Opening - T. Jacobowitz
Just prior to Chairperson Jacobowitz officially opening the meeting, C. Meneghin announced that it was our chair’s birthday. The Commission responded by singing Happy Birthday to Tina. The meeting was called to order and members were bid welcome to a new year of service and what promises to be a stimulating meeting. Members introduced ourselves and identified the constituencies we serve. A special welcome was extended to Charlie Matteis, the new Director of Organizational Development in Human Resources.

B. President's Charge to PCAA - VP J.Hain
VP Hain reviewed the charge issued by President Cole at our May Advance. Highlighting the main points, she indicated that MSU was fortunate in that our commission is working at an advanced level compared to many other campuses. The President expects the Commission to make recommendations based on facts and data. Members of the Commission are to be positive advocates, remain open to new ideas, and improve communication with our constituencies. J. Harris raised the question if the PCAA should be concerned with the issue of set asides with all the new construction and campus growth. VP Hain responded that the President’s charge to the Commission should be directed to the MSU workforce only.

C. Minutes of May 16 - M. Brown
The minutes were adopted with corrections after a motion and second by L. Rodriguez and J. Harris respectively. Since the J. Ficke comments under the Faculty Mentoring Report on page 4 were not all inclusive, the “i.e.” was changed to “e.g.”. Also in the roll call, the name Latin American Caucus was changed to Latino/a Caucus on the advice of that constituency’s representative.

II. Readings

For the October meeting, we are to read pp. 139 –156 in Sex, Race, and Merit…We should prepare ourselves by becoming familiar with anti-affirmative action arguments of writes like Rodriguez, Steele, and Carter.

J. Harris also two newspaper articles on “Religion in New Jersey” and “More Asians and Latinos Taking Root in Jersey”. He reminded us that our campus should be sensitive to religious holidays and deliberate in making accommodations for growing minority populations as a regional school that reflects the diversity of the region.

D. Rogers announced that the University of California Regents adopted domestic partner benefits according to recent news reports.


III. Committee Reports

A. Status of Women - M. Coleman-Carter
Coleman –Carter restated that the goal of the committee was to examine female satisfaction in the workplace. I. Caprio’s name was added to the list of committee members and M. Coleman-Carter solicited additional members.
Specifically, the Status of Women will:

1) professional development for clerical and support staff that is mostly female

2) educate supervisors on the Personnel Assessment Review (PAR) for classified employees

3) upgrade women to the trades and

4) compare female faculty ranks and pay and staff positions to similar type institutions.

VP Hain asked for feedback from the Status of Women Committee and offered support from Human Resources in completing the PARs.

C. Fitzpatrick asked if non-commission students could serve on PCAA committees. The response was since we have student commission members, they are expected to serve on the committees.

Iris Berreira shared a situation about a physical plant worker who was not literate in English or Spanish and a result, he received a low score on the PAR. With PAR the emphasis on improvement and taking corrective measures, the employee was not offered any English As A Second Language courses to improve his literacy.

B. Recruitment and Retention - L. Rodriguez
R. Baylor was added to the committee. The committee’s goals are listed in
the May minutes.

C. Status of Minorities - K. Bledsoe
The committee goals are listed in the May minutes. K. Bledsoe solicited
new members to serve, especially needs participation by white males.

D. Executive - T. Jacobowitz
See goals as listed in t May minutes. All the committee chairs, B. Milton, and
J. Hain were added to the executive committee list.

C. Meneghin asked committee chairs to e-mail her if they amend committee goals as stated in the 2002 May Advance minutes. She then circulated a committee list for additional sign-ups.

IV. Old Business
A. Physical Plant Update VP Hain
VP Hain announced that there was a change in the VP leadership and as a result, the consultants’ interim report will be presented to Vice President Shuckel in mid October. Hopefully the report will be presented to the PCAA by the November meeting.

All physical plant employees were offered computer training and e-mail accounts. They can use computer labs around the campus.

Also, additional computers have been added in the Physical Plant shop area.
K. Bledsoe indicated that he and other workers don’t have a place to make or receive personal phone calls. J. Harris suggested the Commission assign the problem to one of the standing committees to investigate and propose solutions. L. Wise suggested it be assigned to the Status of Minorities, since many minority group members are involved. There remains a litany of unresolved issues, namely computer access, telephone access, and nametags with first names (that employees consider demeaning). With reference to telephone usage, it was noted that library employees have one telephone for employee use in some areas.

VP Hain said she will have Kiki Williams issue a notice that authorizes physical plant employees to use computers in the labs and designate other public computers for physical plant employee use. She also said that voice mail access for all employees can be arranged along with the necessary training.

With reference to the nametags, J. Harris recommended that nametags be changed to first and last names instead of first names only. It was also mentioned that SDCL and IT personnel wear nametags and badges. Nametag changes will require budget expenditures that may delay the process.

B. Meeting Dates
See as posted on the agenda.

C. Student Membership Roles M. Coleman-Carter
Even though the PCAA will not be involved in student issues, the student perspective is still important to the Commission. Student representatives to the Commission are invited and urged to serve on standing committees. Milton reminded us that students are also employees and definitely need to be involved in campus discussions. C. Fitzpatrick is helping to develop the student role. He plans to bring concerns and feedback of the Multicultural Committee of the SGA to the PCAA.

J. Harris recommended that the United Asian Student Organization should be added as a constituency to replace the Asian Student Group. (now under the umbrella of the broader group).

V. New Business
A. Physical Plant Update VP Hain
VP Hain announced that there was a change in the VP leadership and as a result, the consultants’ interim report will be presented to Vice President Shuckel in mid October. Hopefully the report will be presented to the PCAA by the November meeting.

A. Affirmative Action Day
This year we are looking for a nationally known speaker and we would like to co-sponsor the event with other groups. We should also ask the Deans to contribute. The PCAA selected an ad hoc committee of I. Barriera, C. Ortiz, B. Milton, J. Harris, and C. Meneghin to plan the event and seek co-sponsors.

B Other
C. Meneghin reported that GLFSA asked the Lamda Legal Defense to come campus on October 28 at 4 PM to discuss same sex marriages.

J. Harris urged PCAA to refer students in need of accommodations to
Linda Smith’s office.

Motion to adjourn (C. Ortiz/C. Meneghin). Meeting adjourned at 2 P.M.

Submitted,

Michael Brown
Recording Secretary