Montclair State University
PCAA 2003-04

Minutes
October 23, 2003

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Present: R. Halaby, T. Jacobowitz, C. Meneghin, E. Isaacs, M. Rothstein, I. Caprio, K. Faison, M. Brown, N. Connolly, L. Smith, M. Carter, D. DeBlasio, J. Ficke, H. Gera, C. Ortiz, L. Rodriguez, J. Hain, B. Milton, R. Ross, (Alternates) C. Matteis, L Gibson, L. Lemley, J. Yang, K. Dennis, J. Harris

Absent: J. Robinson, L. Santiago, C. Carceres, R. Cartagena, M. Drozjock, D. Rogers

I. Welcome
Chairperson T. Jacobowitz called the meeting to order at 12:08 PM. She sadly announced the passing of L. Wise's father yesterday. On behalf of the Commission, she expressed condolences to her and the family. We also congratulated E. Isaacs, who gave birth to son Jamie on February 20.

Minutes
Minutes from the September 25 meeting were moved for adoption by
J. Harris and seconded by L. Lemley. Motion carried for adoption.

II. Tribute to Kinoy
In the absence of the video, J. Harris shared information on the contributions of Arthur Kinoy, recently departed attorney and civil rights advocate. Kinoy was a resident of Montclair and a distinguished law professor at Rutgers University Law School. Kinoy defended Dr. Martin Luther King and other civil rights leaders in his remarkable career and won Supreme Court decisions. Kinoy will posthumously receive the Thurgood Marshal Award at the NAACP Freedom Fund Dinner this week.

B. Milton added that she first met Kinoy in 1995,when he championed the cause of affirmative action in NJ in support of the New Jersey Association of Affirmative Action in Higher Education. (NJAAAHE).

III. Committee Reports
A. Education J. Harris
The committee met this week and worked on some goals. The members considered a focus on the protected groups as defined by federal law, i.e., African Americans, Asian and Pacific Islanders, Latino/s, women, persons with disabilities. The committee's work should avoid duplication with the Mentoring and Recruitment and Retention Committees.

C. Meneghin was concerned that gays and lesbians were not a focus. Since those issues were prevalent at the May Advance she recommended including gays and lesbians within the purview of the Education Committee. Each committees mission statement needs to encompass protected groups and all groups that may be discriminated against on campus. It was agreed.

The next meeting of the Education Committee is November 4 at 3 PM in the Student Center (room tba). Members of the PCAA are invited. Members of the committee are D. Rogers, I Caprio, L. Smith, N. Firoz,, B. Milton, R. Davis, C. Stachelski, K. Faison, and C. Ortiz.

B. Mentoring M. Carter
This committee met several times and grappled with a definition of mentoring.
At the second meeting, members developed strategies to accomplish the mission. They listed:

• Recommend a model mentoring program
• Educate the PCAA
• Research the history of mentoring on campus
• Assess the status of the current environment
• Look at external mentoring models
• Identify a target groups for mentoring in collaboration with PCAA
• Have target groups identify their needs
• Develop a plan
• Identify the skills mentors need

Members of the committee are R. Halaby, J. Ficke, C. Matteis, L. Lemley, M. Rothstein, B. Milton (ex officio), L. Gibson, and R. Ross. Further, the committee will consider what mentoring areas need attention, which work well, and which don't.

C. Recruitment and Retention L. Rodriguez
L. Rodriguez distributed a written proposal to contact caucus chairs of the AAC, APIC, GLFSA, and the Latino/a Caucus. It was suggested that he contact others groups to include, but not limited to the University Senate Committee on Persons with Disabilities (Elaine Fine), Women's Studies (Cynthia Eller), and IAAP. The proposal calls for meeting with the caucuses or groups to solicit concerns about retention and recruitment. C. Matteis suggested that other committees meet with the caucuses and groups at the same time as the Recruitment and Retention Committee. C. Matteis volunteered to act as a facilitator.

J. Harris suggested that the Recruitment and Retention Committee forward questions to the caucuses and groups prior to the meetings, so that caucus members can be prepared to address the issues. B. Milton added that she would prepare employee profiles before the R&R Committee meets with the caucuses and groups to help frame discussions. The caucus committees should not only seek input, but also present information. E. Issacs asked if the faculty incentive for hiring two for one if one of the candidates is a person of color is still in effect. J. Hain doesn't think the incentive still exists. J. Ficke explained that there are faculty yet to be hired under the agreement. She also added that the Provost met with the Latino/a Caucus recently on the issue of low numbers of new hires this year. B. Milton also suggested that the MSU departments should use the Compact for Faculty Diversity Conference as a resource for searching for new faculty.

J. Hain said that Human Resources Department is reviewing the search process. As a result of the PCAA's valuable discussion today, she will invite members to develop, review, and refine the search process and procedures.

Members of the Recruitment and Retention Committee are L. Rodriguez,
E. Isaacs, I. Barriera, D. DeBlasio, H. Perez, N. Connolly, B. Milton (ex officio), and J. Hain (ex-officio).

IV. Vote on Committee Structure Motion
Moved to amend the present constitution to modify PCAA standing committee structure from Status of Women, Recruitment and Retention, and Status of Minorities to Education, Recruitment and Retention, and Mentoring for a one-year period. L. Rodriguez/J. Harris

The motion carried unanimously.

V. Affirmative Action Day B. Milton
B. Milton reported for the committee. West Chester State University recently had Shaunte Driver (from BAMN) debate conservative Roger Clegg. The cost was $5,000-6,000, which is well beyond our budget. Another suggestion was to invite Driver only. Another option may be to invite Jonathan Alger, who has written extensively on AA and has been involved with the University of Michigan case.

K. Faison, student representative from OSAU, indicated that many students at MSU don't understand the concept of affirmative action. Recently Deans Harris and Carter, and Affirmative Action Office Milton made a presentation to OSAU on the topic. K. Faison's appeal was for more grassroots intervention and education though posters, signs, and the website. OSAU expressed an interest in cosponsoring Affirmative Action Day with the PCAA. She suggested that the PCAA teach Freshman Experience classes on affirmative action and diversity. Chairperson Jacobowitz asked K. Faison to work with the Education Committee and B. Milton to get more students involved with Affirmative Action Day.

V. The next meeting is scheduled for November 20.
We will address the two Arthur Coleman readings.

Meeting adjourned at 1:55 PM.

Submitted,
Michael S. Brown, Sr.
Recording Secretary