Diversity Council ::: Meeting Minutes ::: April 15, 2005
Present: Bastow-Shoop, Berry, Burnett, Davis Wallette, Eichenberger, Holbrook, Johnson-Messelt, Kamel, Kitch, Kostecki, Nesemeier, Okigbo, Peterson, Schnell, Spiering, Stack, Taylor, Thoennes, Ussatis, White
I. Announcements
• TOCAR—has developed an ally program for community or campus individuals interested in assisting the team with anti-racism efforts.
o Handouts of TOCAR brochure and Anti-Racist Alliance information
o Approximately 150 people from NDSU have attended Level 1 training
o 5 NDSU individuals will attend “Train the Trainer” training this summer; would have the ability to conduct Level 1 trainings within our consortium
o If interested in any additional information, contact Sandy
• On April 16 there is a statewide Islamic conference; will be held at NDSU.
• Civil Education Month upcoming events
o Monday, April 18 & Monday, April 25: PBS Series “Auschwitz: Inside the Nazi State”
o Tuesday, April 19, Dr. Robert Fisch, Holocaust Survivor
o Wednesday, April 20, Boxes and Walls
o Wednesday, April 27, Dr. Manjusha Gupta, “Gender Gap in Politics”
o Thursday, April 28, Safe Zone Training
• Tapestry of Diverse Talents induction—Friday, May 6 at noon in the Alumni Lounge of the Union
• Dr. Gerald Vizenor will be lecturing on Native American Narratives: Resistance and Survivance on Friday, April 22 in Beckwith.
President Chapman
• There have been many changes the past few years—we are a different institution.
• Many changes have been quantitative and now new qualitative goals are being set.
• Once the Diversity, Equity and Community Strategic Plan is complete, it will be brought before the Cabinet as well as the President’s Council.
• Effective April 12 the Equal Opportunity Office’s name has been changed to the Office of Equity and Diversity. This reflects our movement past compliance and our goals in relation to equity and diversity.
• The Financial Times of London recently spent a week here analyzing our impact on the international community.
• The Jewish Times of New York is spending a week at NDSU next week. NDSU has the smallest Hillel group in the world.
• These instances show that we are getting people from many different perspectives interested in NDSU.
Comments
• Charles Peterson commented on the aspects of creating diversity as a priority for NDSU, through the administrative leadership on the Council as well as the intentional efforts to weave the diversity efforts into the fabric of the institution.
• Charles Okigbo reflected that he is very comfortable with the climate at NDSU, is encouraged by NDSU’s administration and appreciates the very visible support. He is here and has continued to stay here because of the commitment to create a diverse community.
• Karla Thoeonnes shared that at a recent conference she visited with an associate of Dr. Sue Rankin. Karla commented that this person remarked that Sue speaks very highly of NDSU to others and of the leadership and dedication from the administration.
Update on Anti-Bias response plan
• Have moved to calling the work “Anti-Bias Response Plan” rather than “Bigotry Response Plan”.
• Have utilized resources from recent NASPA conference to continue work.
• Cornell has an interesting response plan and follow-up.
• Currently working to refine information for various incidents that could happen.
• Plan is to launch the plan by fall semester.
Update on Subgroups’ work
• Assessment
o A number of outcomes are long-term—is hard to determine who is responsible and when it will be done.
o Related to the Review Team’s work—best practices to units. Need to determine what they are and how they should be distributed.
o Vision a letter from the President to unit administrators as a top priority. Letter would indicate the efforts would be a part of the annual report process.
o Units will need education and awareness that this work needs to be done—the President and Cabinet will weave this into their work with units.
o By the State of the University address this fall, we will have the Strategic Plan in place. Plan to do an update/preview to the President’s Council this spring as well as present it at new faculty and new employee orientation sessions this fall.
• Performance Indicators
o Original document was geared towards academic units, so adapted accordingly.
o Changed some of the overall goals
-- Objective Two is now “Learning and Pedagogy”
-- Objective Three is now “Research and Creative Activity”
o Felt that to ensure buy-in, the model needed to work for us.
• Review Teams
o Work is in progress, will report at next meeting
Next meeting: Friday, May 20, noon to 1:30 p.m. in Meinecke, lunch provided—will refine three subgroups’ work
Other scheduled meeting (in Meinecke; lunch will be served).
Friday, June 17, noon to 1:30 p.m.
Please notify Linda Gill (linda.gill@ndsu.edu or 1-8124) no later than Wednesday morning before the meeting date if you cannot attend a meeting so that she can adjust the lunch count.
Send new items or information about events for the web page to Amy Ochoa (amy.ochoa@ndsu.edu).
Minutes recorded by R. Kitch