Montclair State University PCAA 2001-02
Minutes
December 20, 2001
Present: M. Brown, C. Meneghin, E. Oberhofer (alt), K, Dennis, H. Gera, E. Abreu, L. Wise, J. Baldwin-LeClair P. Kirby, L. Rodriguez, O. Rodriguez Srednicki (alt), I. Caprio, L. McInerney, J Yang (alt), B. Milton, M. Carter, J. Hain, T. Jacobowitz, N. Connolly, C. Ortiz, J. Hain, B. Milton
Absent: R. Young, J. Rivera, J. Mammaro, D. Chryssovergis, I. Barriera, J. Ficke, M. Cunningham, S. Kight, S Shah, J. Rivera, N. Rourke, T. Hutchines, J. Rivera
I. Call to Order
A. Chairperson T. Jacobowitz called the meeting to order at 12:10 PM.
Fall 2001 has been a challenging and busy semester for the PCAA in light
of the September 11
Events and the immediate impact these occurrences had on the campus.
B. Minutes from the November 18 meeting were distributed. L. Rodriguez
moved to accept minutes without amendments. P. Kirby seconded. Motion
carried.
C. The meeting agenda was adjusted to allow adequate time to discuss
Affirmative
Action Day.
II. Old Business
A. Cole Announcement
President Cole sent a letter dated December 17 to the campus community
announcing Commission representatives and encouraged members of each
constituency to communicate concerns and suggestions to their representatives
and keep abreast of activities and issues by visiting the PCAA
Website.
B. Affirmative Action Day – February 19, 2002
Professor Susan Sturm of Columbia University is our confirmed keynote
speaker. Corresponding Secretary C. Meneghin will send a "save
the date" announcement to the campus at large for Affirmative Action
Day providing the speaker's name and tentative agenda for the day's
activities. The PCAA encourages faculty to bring classes. J. Harris
inquired if the PCAA would consider cosponsoring Affirmative Action
Day events with other clubs and organizations. The answer was affirmative.
III. Committee Reports
A. Status on Minorities
B. Terry
No Report
B. Status of Women
M. Coleman-Carter
The two top committee priorities are to begin planning for University
Day in March. The response from the most recent program was very positive;
therefore the momentum needs to be continued meaningful involvement
in programming for support staff, which is predominantly women.
E. Abreu announced that the Women's Center is approaching its 30th
Anniversary. In reviewing the archives, she discovered that the PCAA
had been instrumental in "saving" the Women's Center
from being dissolved and she expressed her gratitude to this body. She
invited the PCAA to support the Vagina Monologs, a theatrical production
spearheaded by students, on February 14 and 16. The performers are students,
faculty, staff, and community women. Also, part of the 30th anniversary
is a feminist career fair that will be cosponsored with other groups.
Finally, she informed the PCAA that she is training 18 peer counselors
to help freshmen women cope with being overwhelmed by college life along
with their other responsibilities.
C. Recruitment and Retention
R. Sharps
The committee distributed a draft of the deans' report on faculty
recruitment and retention. After reading the report, PCAA members should
comment on the recommendations on page 8 using our listserve.
J Yang noted that the recommendations don't include adding salary
incentives and flexibility in the use of resources. Add recommendation,
"Seek creative ways to recruit faculty of color and insure that
deans are aware of their options."
J. Hain raised a question about deans' knowledge of white students
leaving classes taught by faculty of color. K. Dennis reported that
the deans' responses ranged from not being aware to discussing
the issue with the students involved.
The committee identified two other problems and concerns. Junior faculty,
especially those of color, is overextended by committee assignments.
And, faculty departments need better allocation of graduate assistants
and student workers to assist faculty.
The PCAA commended the Committee on the process and thoroughness of
report.
The Committee also presented a Mentoring Program Resolution with rationale
and reference resources. L. Rodriguez moved to accept and O. Rodriguez
Srednicki offered a second. The motion passed with an amendment.
Motion: We recommend that the university investigate successful mentoring
programs at other comparable institutions of higher learning with the
intent of developing a program adapted to promote
recruitment and retention of faculty of color at MSU.
T. Jacobowitz will forward the motion and supporting document to President
Cole.
IV. Reading
Reading and the on-going discussion of Sex, Race, & Merit… was postponed until our next meeting.
IV. New Business
A. T. Jacobowitz extended a final invitation to members of the PCAA
to attend the Advance sponsored by the Center of Pedagogy on January
9-10.
B. The next general meeting is January 17 at noon. The executive board
will meet noon on January 8.
Meeting adjourned 1:30 PM.
Submitted,
Michael Brown Recording Secretary