DIVERSITY ENHANCEMENT COMMITTEE MEETING
8:45 a.m. Meeting Begins
10:00 a.m. Meeting Ends
Location: Academic Affairs Conference Room
I.
September 23, 2011: CALL TO ORDER – Dr. Richard C. Miller
Called to order at 8:45 a.m.
II.
ATTENDANCE – Those in attendance were Richard C. Miller, Huda Melky, Janet Hall, Karl
Laves, Tracey Moore, Michelle Hollis, Judy Walker, Pam Herriford, Abraham Williams,
Monica Burke, Aaron Hughey, Quentin Hollis, Brian Meredith and Cindy Smith.
III.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
The minutes from the May 13, 2011 meeting were reviewed and approved.
IV.
PROSPECTIVE NEW MEMBERS
A. Dr. Miller thanked the members for their work on the committee. Bea Cobb asked to
remove herself due to scheduling conflicts. Dr. Miller introduced Judy Walker, Associate
Professor in Nursing, and Brian Meredith, Associate Vice President of Enrollment
Management, as prospective new members of the DEC. Their names will be sent to
President Ransdell for approval.
V.
FALL 2011 MINORITY STUDENT ENROLLMENT REPORT & FACULTY/STAFF REPORT
A. Dr. Miller will send the Minority Student & Faculty Report to committee members to
review at a later date.
B. Brian Meredith and Dennis George are reviewing the Cornerstone Program and the
STEPS Program. There was discussion with the committee regarding the best way to
help and retain students.
C. Huda Melky suggested a Retention Program specifically for minority students.
D. Tracey Moore suggested for the retention statistic to include minority enrollment.
VI.
UPDATE ON WKU DIVERSITY PLAN
A. Dr. Miller emailed the WKU Diversity Plan to committee members during summer break.
CPE will vote today with the plan going into effect January 2, 2012. The Diversity Plan is
what the university will now follow. There is no longer a KY Plan and we will no longer
follow the eight criteria.
a. Campus Climate Survey Project: This is currently in draft form and Dr. Miller will
send it to committee members.
b. Minority Hiring Plan: This is the last year of the initial plan. It resulted in six African
American Faculty being hired. There was discussion regarding the new plan.
VII.
OFFICE OF DIVERSITY PROGRAMS
A. Dr. Miller, Monica Burke, Michelle Hollis and the ODP staff are reviewing Office of
Diversity Programs at other universities to access if changes need to be made in our
ODP office.
B. A draft position announcement was shared with the committee by Dr. Miller. Dr. Miller
said he would like to broaden the scope of the office. Michelle Hollis shared with the
committee some of her thoughts and concerns. Michelle also acknowledged additional
funding will be needed to meet the criteria in the job announcement. Dr. Miller asked
committee members to review the job announcement and submit comments to him in
writing.
VIII.
UPCOMING EVENTS
A. Statewide Summit on Diversity on September 26-28, 2011 in Lexington, KY. Dr. Miller
and Huda Melky will be attending.
B. AREB 2011 Annual Compact for Faculty Diversity Institute on Teaching and Mentoring,
October 20-22, 2011 in Atlanta, Georgia.
IX.
HUDA MELKY
A. Huda Melky shared with the committee the signing of a new executive order for
Diversity and Inclusion by President Obama.