Montclair State University

Meeting Minutes - November 19, 2008

Attendance

E. Abreu, M. Brown, R. Brown, M. Cascarano, M.Coleman-Carter, M. Colon, D. Davis, T. Dean, D. Estrada, A. Gomez, J. Harris, R. Howell, A. Jeffers, L. Jenkins, C. Jones, M. Kruge, L. Lemley, D. Lorenzo, C. Matteis, K. McGowan, C. Meneghin, B. Milton, R. Misra, P. Morgan, A. Pamilova, S. Pasquino, D. Fish-Ragan, A. Ralosky, O. Rodriguez-Skredniki, L. Smith, T. Somma, J. Specchio, E. Strickland, J. Velasco

I. Welcome – 12:15pm

L. Smith motioned to accept the minutes from October, D. Lorenzo second. The minutes approved as is by committee.

K. McGowan, spoke about the Inaguration campus wide event that the Center for Non Violence and Peace Initiatives is implementing with other departments from Student Development and Campus Life division for January 20, 2009. The PCAAD is thrilled to promote and support the event.

The PCAAD will become a clearing-house, to promote and help with attendance with the variety of events that occur in response to any issue of diversity/hate crimes and/or other events that are specific to the mission of the PCAAD. Upcoming events that are sponsored by the PCAAD will be promoted through emails and the website.

A suggestion was made that the PCAAD members identify themselves when attending an event.

II. Committees

a. Recruitment and Retention
O. Rodriguez, reported that the committee is monitoring the promotion, hiring and leaving of professional staff. The committee is also looking at enrollment numbers. Working with Barbara Milton from HR to return with reporting the numbers and suggestions to the commission before April.

b. Mentoring
E. Abreau reported that the committee concentrated on 2 issues, thank your mentor day to motivate and acknowledge the importance of mentors in January. The survey will be launched during that same week. A statement about accommodations regarding issues of disability or language can be arranged by contact E. Abreau at ext. 5114

c. Education
J. Harris reported that the committee did not meet but were involved in the conversations about the cartoon in the Montclairion. An article was distributed about the Labor Picture of the unemployment rate in the United States, from the New York Times, Saturday November 8th, 2008. A brief discussion was held regarding the impact of the economic crisis on the college enrollment of minority students around the country and at Montclair State University.

III. Ongoing

Accessibility for MSU buildings meet the legal code standards but are not meet the standards for our students. The doors in university hall will be completed by April, the parking deck will be next but no date has been confirmed, and College Hall will be assessed once the bridge is fixed. In the interim Jason Langdon requested that the admissions office have an automatic door that will serve as the access door for College Hall until the problem is rectified. A report about the major concerns that these continued issues bring forth will be addressed in a letter from the PCAAD to the university. A resolution will therefore be written to demand action and clarify deadlines.

Affirmative Action day
J. Harris will outreach to student groups to continue the involvement throughout the day in the lobby of Kasser Theatre. D. Lorenzo reported on the presenters.

IV. New

Lets Talk – Montclarion Cartoon discussion was held.

A motion was made to adjourn the meeting by L. Lemly and second by A. Jeffers.

Respectfully submitted by Jhon H. Velasco