Commission on the Status of Minorities
Meeting Minutes: October 15, 2013
Call to order
Arthur Garrison called to order the regular meeting of the 2013-14 Commission on the Status of
Minorities at 11:05 am on October 15, 2013 in the third floor Psychology conference room in Old
Main.
Attendance
The following persons were present:
James D. Jackson – African American Professional Organization
Jackie Fox – Office of Social Equity
Thomas Robinson – African American Professional Organization
Soo Goh – College of Visual and Performing Arts
Arthur Garrison – College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Rhonda Branford – Division of Multicultural Services
Mary Ann O’Neill – College of Education
The following persons were absent:
Ryan Wheeler – Black Student organization representative
Louis Rodriquez – Latino Caucus
R. Todd Rober – formerly College of Visual and Performing Arts representative
Qin Geng – College of Business
1. Welcome
As the new chair of the CSM for fall 2013, Arthur Garrison opened the meeting, welcomed new
members, inviting introductions.
2. Approval of the Minutes
Motion called for the minutes to be accepted. The motion to accept was made by James Jackson and
seconded by Thomas Robinson.
3. Ideas, Goals for the Academic Year
A. Garrison posed the questions: What do we want to accomplish as a committee this year? His
proposal was to look at keeping students enrolled at KU and especially graduating in 4 to 4 1/2years.
The development of action-oriented focus groups was proposed to explore issues causing students to be
unsuccessful and/or uncomfortable at Kutztown University. J. Fox will contact Natalie Snow for data
that may be on file. J. Jackson checked into the Senate report for data which is limited. T. Robinson
gave some background on his research on the retention of minority students and the possibility of
accessing and building on the available data. He is establishing focus groups of 15-20 African American
and Latino students for his study. R. Branford suggested contacting the Latino organizations to recruit
Latino students for the study.
Discussion on support available to first generation students centered on the elimination of the support
programs Act 101 and the limited Connections experience. These programs provided opportunities for
new students to develop a sense on comfort by being able to connect with a university entity. This led to
the question: Is there a cultural discontinuity? Further discussion of known issues with perceptions and
bias included KU Alerts, and perceptions off-campus and on campus, particularly in housing situations.
Immediate action suggestion:
Controlled meetings with the CA’s in the dorms-a series in each of the residence halls to provide
a place to voice issues and view issues from different perspectives. These meetings would be
documented and kept on file. A member of the committee will be present at the meetings. A. Garrison
will contact resident life to propose a series of focus group meetings in the residence halls.
Request was made by T. Robinson for funding for gift cards to give to participants in the retention study.
J. Jackson will check on possibilities for funding and report on status of committee funds at the next
meeting.
5. Additional meetings for the semester
The next meeting of the commission is scheduled for November, 19, 2013, both at 11 am in the
Psychology conference room.
Adjournment
M. O’Neil, R. Branford seconds to adjourn meeting at 11:49 am.
Minutes submitted by: M. O’Neil
Approved: