President’s Commission on Diversity
October 15, 2007
Room 306 Main Building
Minutes
Members Present: Chike Anyaegbunam, Patty Bender, Mary Bolin-Reece, Laverne
Carter, Chester Grundy, Bessie Guerrant, Vanessa Jackson, Ibrahim Jawahir, Sara Jones,
Jane Kirschling, Michael Lee, Bob Mullens, Richard Sutphen, Lionel Williamson, Jeff
Dembo, Karen Slaymaker, Mahjabeen Rafiuddin, Lina Crocker, Gail Harrison, Sharon
Taylor New, Chris Harper, Allan G. Richards, Rakesh Kandibanda and Linda Rakes.
Members Absent: Bob Brown, Marilyn Lyons, Druscilla Bakert, Lori Gonzalez and
Oscar Arevalo.
Welcome and Call to Order:
Allan G. Richards, Ed.D.
Approval of Minutes:
Allan G. Richards, Ed.D.
A motion to approve the September 20, 2007 minutes was made by Lionel Williamson
and seconded by Patty Bender. The minutes were approved by a unanimous vote with no
changes.
By-Laws:
Bessie Guerrant
The By-Laws Committee’s proposed changes and recommendations to the By-Laws were
discussed among the Commission members. After discussion of the proposed changes to
the By-Laws, the Commission agreed that the By-Laws should be revised to reflect the
suggested changes and brought to the November PCD meeting for approval. A motion
was made by Vanessa Jackson to table the proposed By-Laws until the November
meeting. Motion was seconded by Chester Grundy. Motion carried with a unanimous
vote.
Nominating Committee Guidelines:
Bessie Guerrant
The Membership Nominating Committee Guidelines and the proposed Nomination Form
was presented to the Commission. Changes were made to the guidelines and to the form.
The nomination form will be posted on the PCD website.
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PCD Website:
Rakesh Kandibanda
A visual presentation of the new PCD website was shown to the Commission members
and the various highlights of the website were explained. The members were encouraged
to submit their recommendations and suggestions for further improvements to the
website.
PCD ListServe:
Linda Rakes
The PCD listserve is now active and available to the Commission members. Listserve
Information was given to the members as guidelines for use of the listserve.
Introduction of President Lee T. Todd, Jr.:
Allan G. Richards, Ed.D.
Diversity and inclusiveness in an institutional culture are about valuing and respecting the
differences among people, their points of view, opinions, ideas, and way of life. When
we embrace diversity and inclusiveness we grow and develop intellectually, spiritually,
morally, socially, and emotionally. This growth and development prepares us to be self
fulfilled and be successful in this our global community that is culturally, racially, socioeconomically, intellectually, and physically diverse.
An institution culture that engages diversity and inclusiveness teaches us to be cognizant
of history and it also teaches us to be cognizant that images, words, acts, and deeds can
deconstruct and reconstruct the human mind for effective learning, but when misused can
do grave harm to the human spirit. An institutional culture that encourages diversity and
inclusiveness also teaches us another lesson. The academy, at its best, is grounded in
debate and civil discourse which ultimately leads us to a better place.
The events on campus sparked by the publication of the cartoon images in the
independent student newspaper, the Kentucky Kernel, on Friday, October 5th are a
reminder to us that we have made progress in creating an institutional culture that is
diverse and inclusive but it is also a reminder to us of how far we have to go and the
urgency with which we have to proceed here at the University of Kentucky.
President, Lee T. Todd, Jr. has challenged the campus anew for the work ahead in
continuing to transform the University of Kentucky to truly embrace an institutional
culture that encourages diversity and inclusiveness. Your work on the President’s
Commission on Diversity is vitally essential to enable this endeavor to be successful.
The President is here with us today because of the importance of your work in helping the
University achieve its goals and at the same time, helping humanity to see its purpose and
its strength in diversity and inclusiveness... And to this end, The President will now
deliver the Charge to the Commission and I welcome him wholeheartedly on your
behalf”.
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Charge to the Commission:
Lee T. Todd, Jr.
Dr. Lee T. Todd, Jr., addressed the Commission by first expressing his gratitude to Dr.
Allan Richards for his excellent leadership of the Commission since his appointment and
to the members for their willingness and commitment to serve on the Commission. The
Charge given to the Commission by Dr. Todd is as follows:
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The Commission will lead in diversity efforts on this campus with the
renewed focus and energy that is currently present.
Realize the importance of helping to create an inclusive institutional culture
which will be paramount to the university.
Promote ways of achieving procedures for accomplishing a changing culture
and making diversity inclusive on this campus.
Aid in working toward Goal Four of the UK Strategic Plan developed by the
Board of Trustees this past year which calls on UK to embrace and nurture
diversity in all that is done.
Be aware that the actions taken on this campus influence the lives across the
Commonwealth.
Awareness and help given to UK students to develop the skills necessary to
compete in a global economy which is a diverse economy.
Be aware that it is mandatory to develop a warm and inviting culture if UK is
to become a Top 20 public research university.
Work from the Strategic Plan.
Be an example of diversity for the Sate of Kentucky.
Become leaders in culture and diversity.
Question the hiring, interviewing and search processes in place for better
retention campus wide.
Go forward with the ambitious Strategic Plan adopted by the PCD.
Develop plans and strategies to move the university forward.
Continue to move forward with ambitious plans to help advance our ultimate
goal of becoming a Top 20 public research university.
Adjourn:
Allan G. Richards, Ed.D.
Meeting adjourned at 1:10pm.
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