REDWOODS COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT
Meeting of the Multicultural and Diversity Committee Of the Academic Senate
7351 Tompkins Hill Road, BOARD ROOM SS 204
Meeting Minutes for Friday, April 17, 2015, 3:00 to 5:00 p.m.
Present: Deanna Herrera-Thomas, Jacqui Cain, Dana Maher, Kristy Carlson, Dave Bazard. Sean HerreraThomas, Tracey Thomas. Absent: Tami Bighead
Public Announcements: Kristy Carlson explained her ideas for the diversity poster and indicated that
she would keep the MDC updated as it is refined
Approval of the March 27, 2015 Meeting Minutes
Motion to approve by Sean Herrera-Thomas. Minutes approved without objection.
Action Items
No items for action
Discussion
Feedback from Discussions on Race
The MDC reviewed the participant comments that were generated at the “discussions on race” event.
The committee discussion focused on how to organize and fund future events that would support these
discussions.
MDC members suggested incorporation of the MDC functions into the annual plan. Another suggestion
was for the MDC to develop a formal process for being approached for diversity related events. MDC
chair Deanna Herrera-Thomas indicated that there should be clear connections between the activities of
the Senate, MDC, and the SEP committee. Those links are vague. The committee suggested that this
should be a goal for next year and that the new Senate Presidents should be contacted early in the fall to
discuss improvements of the process, with the goal of a clear set of guidelines for supporting diversity
related events and activities that support underrepresented students.
Follow-up Discussions on Race/Gender/Sex, etc.
Committee member Dana Maher discussed comments about how race intersects ‘rape culture’ and the
need for additional dialogue. There was further committee discussion about organizing events and the
limitations of institution-wide coordination. The MDC also noted the need to have faculty and
administrative presence at these events. This discussion was similar to what is listed under 5.1 (the two
discussions blended together). The committee emphasized the need for an administrative coordinator to
help organize events. A suggestion was made to put community-related events into institutional
planning. These activities promote student success and persistence and are consistent with other planning
we do in these areas.
Diverse Images of Successful Professionals The MDC discussed ideas for posters and images that highlight the accomplishment of a diverse range of
successful professionals. The images could be in the form of artwork or prints. Committee member
David Bazard suggested a set of “uniform format” posters, each with the image and bio of an
accomplished "underrepresented" professional in different fields. The posters would then be placed
across campus, but not necessarily in program areas associated with that professional. Committee
member Tracey Thomas suggested using program review to tie imagery into the process to generating
images of successful images.
Sherman Alexi Visual Art Contest
Committee member Jacqui Cain explained that the MDC would not be judging “Book of the Year” art
work this year because no submissions were made to the contest. Jacqui said the Book of the Year
committee thanked the MDC for their willingness to judge. Next year the event will be promoted earlier.
MDC chair Deanna Herrera-Thomas thanked Jacqui for her work on the project and asked her to thank
Vinnie Peloso for his work as well.
MDC Award Nominations (Attachment)
Committee Chair Deanna Herrera-Thomas described the nomination process and read the list of nominees
for this award (described in previous meeting minutes). She suggested having an event for the nominees
in September and to also invite the people who submitted the nominations. Deanna reminded the
committee to read the nominations so a vote can be taken at the next meeting.
Rubric for Book of the Year (BOTY) (Attachment)
Time constraints prevented a detailed discussion of this process. However, committee member Jacqui
Cain stated that next year’s BOTY has been selected and will be announced soon.
Reports
Committee chair Deanna Herrera-Thomas announced that the MDC course recommendations will go to
the enrollment management committee and it will also go to the instructional council.
Adjournment – The meeting was adjourned at 4:55pm