COMMITTEE ON MULTICULTURAL CURRICULUM TRANSFORMATION
Notes from Meeting of
16 September 2014
The first meeting of the Committee on Multicultural Curriculum Transformation was held on
Tuesday, September 16, 2014 at 10:00 a.m. in Altgeld 203.
Attendance
Kristen Myers ( CMCT Chair, Director, Women , Gender &Sexuality Studies), Carolinda
Douglass ( Vice Provost for Academic Planning and Development), Kristin Huffine ( Director,
Center for Black Studies), Murali Krishnamurthi ( Acting, Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs), Mark
Rosenbaum (Business), Gary Chen (Engineering & Engineering Technology) , Jane Rose Njue
(Health and Human Sciences), William Goldenberg (Visual and Performing Arts), Elizabeth
Towell (Curricular Dean), and Katie Janssen ( CMCT Graduate Assistant).
Introductions
Myers introduced the new graduate assistant, Katie Janssen.
Announcements
Dates for MCTI:
May 11-15, 2015, 8:00 A.M. to 4:30 P.M. in rooms: Lincoln, Lincoln A, B, and C, and the Heritage rooms.
Minutes
There were no minute to approve. The minutes from the meeting of March 18, 2014, were approved last spring.
Other Business
Structure for the upcoming year: Myers discussed and explained her experiences at different conferences throughout the summer and related them to the committee. Myers suggested a new structure for the upcoming institute year. Myers noted that she, Huffine, and LaVerne Grant have discussed a new vision for the year. Myers suggested it be a strategic planning, comprehensive, mandatory, systematic transformation project to meet the diversity inclusion task force and do leg work for the future CDO (Chief Diversity Officer. Huffine said that we are trying to implement a new plan for the MCTI.
Rosenbaum brought up the idea of having an Ally Training during the institute. Rosenbaum said that it’s about creating a sense of belonging and having a connection to some faculty at a multicultural background level. He said that we need to start seeing faculty members as people versus just a screenshot on Blackboard.
Huffine brought up the training at department level training. She recommended the training needs to be from the people in this committee

Towell stated that we should assess where we are currently and provide data and background to new CDO. While Myers reported the goal of this institute is the goal of the future CDO.
Douglass reported about a gentleman, Fred Hord, from Knox College. He runs different organizations for Black Culture Centers. He was recommend by LaVerne Gyant, Lavon Neil, and the Provost, Lisa Freeman, is bringing him for a year or two as visiting scholar. As a part of his stay, Freeman indicated it might be a good use of his time here, to be involved in the institute of this spring. It came to the conclusion that Hord could be a possible keynote speaker for the institute.
Many ideas were discussed and Myers created a tentative plan for the institute/conference:
Fred Hord would kick the event off in the afternoon with a reception to follow.
Day 1 would be the showcase day. This would include presentations of what we are currently doing and best practice. “What we already know.”
Day 2 could be workshops (whoever wants to come), certificates (Ally Training), and a discussion on how to deal with trends of students, getting prepared for the diverse future of the student population at NIU. Other talk for Day Two included, identifying problems at the college and departmental level and professors and faculty can deal with diverse and troublesome students. “What we need to do to change”
Day 3 is to focus on strategic planning with the idea of, now we know what we know, what can we do, that’s practical in coming year with CDO? The focus on what is our role and vision, as a committee corresponds with the future CDO’s role. “Where are we going?”
Day 4 would be training if it is not put into Day 2.
At last minute, Rosenbaum came up with the idea of taking faculty to different diverse areas in
Chicago. There would be training for the faculty on the bus and this opportunity would provide faculty with personal experience and knowledge of what some of their students go through. This would help faculty create that personal experience with their students.
The meeting was adjourned at 11:30 a.m. The next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday,
October 21, 2014 from 10:00-11:30 a.m. in Altgeld 203.