NDSU: Diversity Council

Diversity Council ::: Meeting Minutes ::: April 28, 2004

Present: Brudey, Burnett, Eichenberger, Holbrook, Kamel, Kostecki, Lundstrom, Okigbo, C. Peterson, Taylor, Thoennes, Schnell, Stack, Spiering, Ussatis, Wallette, White, and Wigtil TOCAR Team Members Present: Josh Boschee, Jennifer Erickson, Tegan Henke, Laura Oster-Aaland, Larry Peterson, and Bernadette Tiapo Other Guest: Stephanie Berglund, Intern in Equal Opportunity Office

I. Announcements

A. Tapestry of Diverse Talents Induction and 10th Anniversary, May 7 - inducting Arion and Rachel Poitra and recognizing all past inductees

B. Building Racially Inclusive Communities (BRIC) Conference, May 6-8

C.NDUS MCARI Training, May 3 in Bismarck - William Ngange, Jaclynn Wallette, Sandy Holbrook and Tom Carlson are attending on behalf of NDSU

II.Changes in Diversity Council Membership

A. Several changes in staffing will mean that new members will need to be added to the Diversity Council: - Bunny Johnson Meselt will be the new Disability Services Coordinator joining the Council;
- Paul Boswell has resigned his position and taken a new one at UND. Jaclynn Davis Wallette will be the interim Director of Multicultural Student Services;
- Jim Wigtil will retire at the end of this year;
- Baringthon Brudy and Heather Nesemeier both graduate this spring.

Council members are asked to let Sandy know of people who might potentially become new members. Several students have volunteered or been suggested already.

III. Discussion with TOCAR Anti-Racism Team

A.Laura Oster-Aaland presented a brief history of TOCAR - the Collaborative and the NDSU team, including a summary of the team's goals, covenant, training activities, assessment and strategic planning efforts. The team expressed desire for the strategic plans for the Council and TOCAR to coordinate, rather than be separate.

Discussion centered around the question of how to maintain relationships, in addition to having an overlap of some members (Holbrook, Stack, Okigbo, Kostecki, and Kitch are members of both the Diversity Council and TOCAR). Some suggestions were offered:

1. Set aside time in each group to report on activities of the other group;
2. Hold joint meetings once each semester;
3. Have TOCAR members serve on each of the 5 Council subcommittees developing the strategic plan;
4. Solidify the relationship between the two groups - in terms of reporting structure, budget, etc. Discussion followed indicating that this might be accomplished through the subcommittees, specifically Institutional Commitment.
5. Get more Council members to complete the Level 2 TOCAR training. White asked if each member of the Council could make a commitment to attend Level 2.

IV. Reports from strategic plan subcommittees

1. Institutional Commitment (Peterson) - Provided a draft copy of planning grid outlining possible actions, including: creating a visible commitment to diversity in the following ways: specific statement in President's Major Themes, require administrators to implement strategic plan, line item for funding diversity initiatives, annual event to celebrate diversity, provide campus community with training, repeat the climate survey, publicize the web page, make individual colleges accountable for advancing diversity in strategic plans, and organize welcome groups for newly recruited students, faculty and staff.
2. Curriculum and Pedagogy (Wigtil) - Provided a meeting summary outlining discussion points, including: definition of social justice, requiring volunteer activities, comparisons of similar institutions, potential speakers/cultural events, working with faculty, working with student organizations, and courses/academic programs currently in place or to develop.
3. Research and Scholarship (Kostecki) - Provided a draft copy of planning grid outlining possible actions, including: offer social justice/cultural awareness training for students, faculty and staff, support/value research on social justice, provide incentives for departments and faculty for research on social justice, and develop a grants program specifically for social justice research.
4. Recruitment/Retention (Holbrook) - Group met twice and is discussing other groups to connect with (Publication Services and Human Relations). Council members who know of departments that have been successful/innovative in recruiting traditionally underrepresented persons, please let this committee know as they will be looking at "best practices" in this area.
5. Inter- and Intra-Group Relations (Stack) - Group met once and is looking at others to include (TOCAR, multicultural student organizations, religious/non-Christian student organizations, etc.).

Before the May meeting, subcommittees should:
1. Add a column to the grids regarding how the proposed actions relate to the climate survey results;
2. Add a column to the grids to inventory what we are currently doing;
3. Identify individuals, offices or groups beyond the Council who might be involved in creating the plan;
4. Incorporate existing efforts into the plan

* Subcommittees should forward updated drafts of planning grids to Sandy by Friday, May 21 for discussion at the next Council meeting.

V. Institutional Holidays

Eichenberger reported concerns from students regarding official university calendars referring to Christian holidays (i.e. Easter, Christmas). Questions were raised about the implications for non-Christian people, especially when these are paid holidays for staff and faculty.

Kamel suggested that the more appropriate focus might be on recognition of other holidays, rather than re-naming the Christian holidays. He asked if we can establish a policy so that non-Christians can take their holidays off, as well. It was suggested that this could be a topic for the Inter- & Intra-group Relations subcommittee to work on and that the Curriculum & Pedagogy subcommittee could address re-instituting the World Religions Class to help address this issue.

VI. Update on Campus Climate Survey Presentations

Presentations have been completed with the HD&E College, Fargo HRC, Office of Admission, Greek President's Council, Student Life Team and Hall Directors. Thoennes suggested that those groups who have received this information should be challenged to think critically about how to use this information in their specific work.

VII.Meeting day/time for next year

Council members are asked to look at their schedules for Fall Semester. Holbrook will send out a reminder within the next few weeks.

VIII.Other

Okigbo suggested that Council members who are leaving the institution should receive something (certificate or plaque) in recognition of their work. Holbrook will look into this.

Okigbo suggested the establishment of a diversity prize to be presented on an annual basis to a group or individual for that they have done to promote diversity. The Institutional Commitment subgroup will look into this.

Next Month's Meeting Wednesday, May 26 @ 8-9:30am in Meinecke Board Room

* Reminder to send any relevant news and information to aochoa@gwmail.nodak.edu for the Diversity Council web page.