REDWOODS COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT
Meeting of the
Multicultural and Diversity Committee

Of the Academic Senate
Eureka: 7351 Tompkins Hill Road, CA100
 Crescent City: 883 W. Washington Blvd.
 Arcata: 435 Crestwood Drive
 Bayside: 1501 Irene Street
 Eureka: 3841 D Street; 1314 E Street, Unit B
 Point Arena: 41341 Harris Ranch Road
Friday, February 22, 2013
11:15 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
MINUTES
1. Call to Order
Members present: Philip Mancus (phone), Dana Maher, George Potamianos, Cody
Hale (ex-officio, ASCR rep), Justine Shaw, Michael Dennis, Ahn Fielding (exofficio)
2. Introductions and Public Comments: Members of the audience are invited to make
comments regarding any subject appropriate to the Multicultural and Diversity
Committee.
No public comments.
3. Approve the February 8, 2013 Meeting Minutes
Minutes approved unanimously, with one correction of the spelling of Geisce Ly’s
name, which was incorrectly spelled in the minutes.
4. Discussion Items
4.1 Diversity and Common Ground Requirement
Peter Blakemore briefly attended the beginning of the meeting but had to leave.
He said that he would set aside 15 minutes at the next curriculum committee
meeting to discuss this issue. The choices include: 1) Having a diversity course
requirement for each degree; 2) Requiring all course outlines to address how each
course addresses diversity issues; or 3) Changing the GE outcomes to include
stronger language about diversity. We could do all three of these, or just one or
two. The second one seemed the most problematic, and a general consensus
emerged favoring choices one and three above.
The committee then discussed the rationale for each one of the choices. They are
all undergirded by the college’s “values statement”, the SEP, and ACCJC
Recommendation 6.
For number one, above: almost all (70%) of the community colleges do this, HSU
specifically has a diversity course requirement, and we live in an increasingly
diverse society that student need to navigate appropriately. It is one of the most
important roles of higher education to prepare people for workforce competency
and to be effective members of the society. We should look at the course lists for
this category from other community colleges and universities to see which
courses commonly appear. We already have this kind of data compiled but no
one has analyzed it yet.
For number two, above: It would require each faculty member to self-consciously
acknowledge their own pedagogical practices and, to a lesser extent, course
content when it comes to multicultural and diversity issues.
For number three, above: it is well known that the GE “global awareness”
outcome is so watered down that it doesn’t really require diversity issues to be
addressed in a course, and this was evidenced when this outcome was last
assessed. The committee is also concerned that this GE outcome doesn’t
adequately address the requirements for ACCJC Recommendation 6.
5. Reports
5.1 ASCR Update, Cody Hale
Cody was appointed to his position only recently and will be able to provide more
information once he has held this position for more than a few days.
5.2 Equal Employment Opportunity Committee Update, Deanna Herrera-Thomas
Deanna was not present, so there was no update presented. Per Ahn Fielding,
the next meeting is April 9.
5.3 Student Equity Plan Oversight Committee Update, Michael Dennis
The “committee for reducing the number of committees” has asked Michael to talk
to them about SEP, EEOC, and MDC perceived redundancies. Philip
recommended that Michael contact Deanna before speaking to that committee.
The SEP committee is trying to narrow down on what initiatives/actions from the
SEP to act on immediately.
5.4 Diversity Training
It is not possible to get Jessica Pettitt for convocation week. The 6th of September
is a possibility, though her fees increased to $2500. Philip wants to book her for
training on the 6th.
5.5 Latino Film Festival
6. Announcements/Open Forum
Dana mentioned that PRC examined BSI success rates noting that African
American students had the lowest success and retention rates in BSI courses
and discussed strategies to improve these rates.
PRC also discussed the new course “repeatability” requirements and its effects
on retention of racially diverse student groups.
Michael Dennis passed along Jessica Pettitt’s information to Jeff Cummings,
along the way toward securing her for 2013 fall.
7.
Adjournment
Michael moved, Dana seconded (12:53PM)
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College of the Redwoods does not discriminate on the basis of ethnicity, religion, age, gender,
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this publication will be made available in alternate formats. Please contact College of the
Redwoods Academic Senate, 7351 Tompkins Hill Road, Eureka, CA 95501, (707) 476-4259, 8:30
a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday—Friday.
Next Meeting:
Friday March 8, 2013