Minutes
PEC/EPP Diversity Committee
Wednesday, December 3, 2014
Members in attendance: Jamaine Abidogun, Daisy Collins, Karen Engler, Ashley Leinweber,
Carol Maples, Sarah Nixon, Steve Willis, and Rebecca Woodard; Chair: Margaret Weaver;
Guests in attendance: Diana Piccolo
Updates:
Heather King will be contacted to discuss the possibility of moving the application for
Diversity in Education for Transfer Students Scholarship online. Several members
wondered if awarding the scholarship during both fall and spring semesters might create
a problem for moving the application online.
Lawrence Anderson, Manager of Diversity & Inclusion, Springfield Public Schools
(SPS), was unable to attend the meeting. He will attend the January meeting to discuss
possible collaboration between Springfield Public Schools and MSU. Several members
suggested that before the meeting it might be helpful to gain insight from Nate regarding
the SPS scholarship for students. Steve suggested that we focus on CAPE’s definition of
“minority” and not limit the definition to race or complexion.
Videos are available on the Division of Diversity & Inclusion website for the Nigeria and
Anti-defamation presentations.
Steve reminded the committee of the Scholars to Scholars federal program for student
workers, which pairs students with faculty members to conduct research.
Discussion items:
PEC/EPP Diversity Committee Membership: The committee voted unanimously to
forward the following changes to the Bylaws for consideration by the PEC Executive
Committee once the current Bylaws changes are approved by Faculty Senate (additions
are in bold):
Membership on this committee shall include the Vice President for Diversity and Inclusion, DDI
Fellow, University Equal Opportunity Officer, the Director of the Multicultural Student Services
Office, one representative from each of the PEU education programs (colleges with more than one
program shall appoint at least one representative), representatives from student organizations of
historically underrepresented groups, two Diversity scholarship recipients (one undergraduate
student and one graduate student), and community members. Ex-officio members and guests are
welcome.
Letter in response to student fees for the 2015 Statewide Collaborative Diversity
Conference: The committee expanded on a draft of the letter started by Sarah. Several
phrases were added to respond to the reasoning offered by Dr. Coopwood. The following
statement was added to the end of the first paragraph: “We urge the Division of Diversity
& Inclusion to set this model in motion and encourage other institutions statewide to
adopt a similar policy.” The following statement was added to the end of the second
person: “Part of cultural competence is economic equity. We are concerned that students
may not attend because they are under-represented.” After unanimously approving the
letter, the committee agreed that the letter be forwarded to Dr. Coopwood, Clif Smart,
Frank Einhellig, and Chris Craig. The names of individual committee members would be
included on the letter, as opposed to just “PEC/EPP Diversity Committee.”
PEC/EPP Diversity Committee responsibilities: The committee brainstormed about
possible revisions:
The Committee on Diversity: shall monitor the PEU Diversity Strategic Plan. On an annual basis
the committee shall evaluate and report on the alignment of PEU education programs’ diversity
components with the PEU Diversity Strategic Plan regularly review CAPE policy on diversity
and promote diversity proficiencies across academic education programs. The committee shall
also select recipients for the Diversity in Education for Transfer Students scholarship.
The committee will vote on these revisions at the January meeting.
Recruitment of potential scholarship candidates: Committee members brainstormed
about ways to advertise the Diversity in Education for Transfer Students Scholarship.
Duany Ramos will be contacted about placing cards in the Education packets. Several
other suggestions included contacting Chris Craig about funding and Art & Design
students for designing the card.