Commission on the Status of Minorities
Meeting Minutes: November 15, 2011
Call to order
James Jackson called to order the regular meeting of the 2011-12 Commission on the Status of
Minorities at 11:05 am on November 15, 2011 in the third floor Psychology conference room in Old
Main.
Attendance
The following persons were present:
Rhonda Branford – Division of Multicultural Services
James D. Jackson – Black Faculty Liaison Committee
R. Todd Rober – College of Visual and Performing Arts
Patricia Richter – Office of Social Equity
Thomas Robinson – Black Faculty Liaison Committee
Darlene Schoenly – College of Education
Joo Tan – College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
The following persons were absent:
Veronica Lepore – Graduate Student Representative
Rajeev Kumar – College of Business
Louis Rodriquez – Latino Caucus
I. Approval of Minutes
Motion to approve the minutes from the three previous meetings of March 24, 2011 and April 19, 2011
and September 20, 2011 was made by Darlene Schoenly, seconded by Pat Richter. All were in favor.
Motion passes.
II. Strategy Session Update
A. Access to Data from Climate Survey
In the last Senate meeting, Maria Sanelli asked that the raw data be made available, and at a quicker
pace. However, because of the small numbers in some categories, all data is being withheld. T. Rober
thought that to help retain faculty staff and students of color, the Commission needs access to the data
that was not as positive about the overall campus climate so that we can make recommendations that
might help in this regard. The data that P. Richter obtained from Social Equity concerning the
Affirmative Action Plan shows the University does not have the number of minorities that they wish to
have in many categories of faculty and staff. J. Jackson will meet with the chairs of the other two
Commissions (Women and Minorities) and address this issue with them.
B. Letter of Response to cuts in the Multicultural Center and other programs
The letter should be addressed to the Administrative Council, the Senate President, and APSCUF
President, but not to the full faculty at the present time. We do not wish our concerns about these cuts to
project a negative impression about minority relations on campus that could make things worse.
C. Additional Data from Student Focus Groups (beyond climate survey)
D. Schoenly believes we should continue to create some focus groups of students. This might be handled
most easily by encouraging students to organize a discussion of the Climate Survey, and their own
impressions of the climate on campus. We could then have some commission members sit in on those
discussion groups to hear what the student’s concerns may be.
III. Action Items
J. Jackson believes that we should focus on a limited number of action items to advance this school year.
1. Chair to meet with chairs of Commission on Status of Minorities and Women
2. Letter concerning cuts to Multicultural Center completed
3. Letter sent to Administrative Council (and D. Johnson and P. Quinn)
4. Support Student Groups in organizing talks about Campus Climate
5. Stronger Presence with new Faculty
T. Robinson would like to gather demographics of incoming faculty members before the fall
semester begins – is this possible? Can we then also have more of a presence at new faculty orientation?
IV. Elections
We do not currently have a Webmaster or a Vice Chair. T. Rober motions for J. Tan to be elected the
webmaster. D. Schoenly Seconds. All in favor, motion passes.
J. Jackson motions for T. Robinson to be elected as Vice Chair, seconded by J. Tan. All in favor, motion
passes.
Adjournment
T. Rober motions, J. Tan seconds to adjourn meeting at 11:48 am.
Minutes submitted by: R. Todd Rober
Approved: February 21, 2012