Montclair State University
PCAA 2001-02

Minutes
March 25, 2002

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Present: T. Jacobowitz, C. Meneghin, E. Abreu, L. McInerney, P. Kirby, S. Shah, M. Brown, K. Dennis, J. Ficke, l. Rodriguez, S. Vallejo, J. Harris, J. Yang (alt), L. Smith (alt), J. Hain, B. Milton

Absent: B. Terry H, J. Baldwin-LeClair, L. Wise, T. Hutchines, R. Young, J. Rivera, J. Mammaro, D. Chryssovergis, N. Connolly, I. Barriera, M. Coleman-Carter, M. Cunningham, H. Gera, D. Mengara, C. Ortiz, R. Sharps, S. Kight

I. Call to Order

A. Chairperson T. Jacobowitz called the meeting to order at 12:10 PM. In the absence of a quorum (14 voting members present/need 16), she revised the agenda postponing the book discussion and discussing informational items that don’t require a vote.

B. We reviewed the minutes, and we will vote for adoption when a quorum is achieved. No corrections were made.

II. Committee Reports

A. Status of Minorities
Bryan Terry
No report

B. Status of Women E. Abreu
Two support staff groups met for workshops on University Day to address the topic of diversity. The facilitators in Cohen Lounge were E. Abreu, J. Harris, and R. Brown. The facilitators in Freeman Hall Lounge were M. Coleman-Carter, K. Chavis and L. Lemley. Feedback from the participants was very positive. They want additional training activities and requested support groups for staff who are enrolled in University courses. Written evaluations are being tabulated after which further information will be shared with Commission.

VP Hain indicated that there will be more follow up on the training and support requests when the new Director of Training and Organizational Development comes aboard the Human Resources staff.

C. Retention & Recruitment
The committee is wating for a response from the President’s Office on faculty mentoring. VP Hain indicated that President Cole referred the report to the Provost, who shared it with the Dean’s Council and J. Ficke. J. Ficke prepared a report on what is currently being done in faculty mentoring. J. Ficke’s report indicates that additional research would need to be done by our PCAA Committee on Recruitment and Retention on mentoring at institutions that are comparable to MSU. We need to review her report before our discussion moves on. We are told that this report indicates that we are doing similar activities to those included in the PCAA report.We might be able to further improve our campus programs using PCAA suggestions.

Base on this discussion, we can draw several conclusions:

There may be a communications gap in what the University offers and what the faculty understands and uses.

The Committee plans to interview faculty of color to see what their experiences have been in the area of mentoring.

We need to read the entire report and have the Committee lead the PCAA in a discussion.

III. Old Business

A. ADA Update
Representative L. Smith and alternate J. Harris were in attendance. L. Smith addressed the issue of emergency evacuation. She informed us that the Campus Police has an evacu-chair that has the ability to negotiate stairs. She has a list of students with mobility and sensory disabilities who need the service, which is shared with Campus Police and other student services professionals. The list is prepared each semester and identifies students with disabilities according to building, time, name, and area of disability.

K.Dennis recommended posting notices in the Montclarion indicating what people with disabilities should do in case of building emergencies.

Further, L. Smith informed us that JoAnn Wale in Human Resources provides services for faculty and staff. Kiki Williams is responsible for physical accommodations in builidings. She also informed us that students have to make requests for accommodations. Self-Advocacy is required.

Cindy Meneghin offered to develop a website for ADA.

B. Physical Plant: Status of Interim Report from Consultants
VP Hain announced that copies of the report will be shared with the Management Leadership Group and the Employee Leadership Group on April 16 after which the complete report will be shared with the PCAA Executive Board.

IV. New Business

A. Search for Training and Organizational Development Director
VP Hain thanked the PCAA members who participated in the ODT interview process. An offer will be made to the top candidate this week. Actually having candidates present a workshop was a creative addition to the search process. It really reinforced Susan Sturm’s assertion of performance based applicant screening.



B. Student Involvement in PCAA
Chairperson Jacobowitz stressed that student attendance and participation in the Commission is critical. She asked students to think about how they can bring student issues and concerns to our PCAA meetings. A suggestion was that the students meet as a committee, advised by Barbara Milton who will be the convener. S. Valleuo indicated that he and the other students need to know more about affirmative action. Perhaps we need to assign some readings. We may consider having a PCAA student orientation and briefing during the summer. We should have the newly elected student officers in place before May.

C. Advance May 16
The location is TBA. The Executive Board will plan the agenda. J. Harris recommended Van Vleck House in Montclair. We just need to have it catered.

Agenda items are:
- Physical Plant Report
- Retention Report on Faculty Mentoring
- Summary and Review of the Year Resolutions
- Committees Objective Setting of Next Year
- Recommended that ODT Director become Ad Hoc member PCAA
- PCAA Membership Attendance
- PCAA Term Expirations

D. Membership
Milton is contacting constituencies to nominate representatives. The May 2002 Advance will be a transitional meeting with old and new representatives.
Reading discussion on Chapter 2 postponed until next meeting.
Meeting adjourned at 1:50pm

Submitted,

Michael Brown
Recording Secretary