DIVERSITY ADVISORY COUNCIL

 

MINUTES

 

September 14, 2001

 

 

Present:  Raúl Cárdenas, Linda Rosenthal, Joseph Pearson, Beatriz Cohen, Linda Thor, Bonnie Gray, Reyes Medrano, Ernie Lara, Michele Hoskins, Cheryl Crutcher, Roxie Holmes, Rachel Hollingsworth, Edd Welsh, Pat Honzay, and Pat Wyler.

 

The group was welcomed by Linda Rosenthal.

 

I.          Review Past Accomplishments   and    II.  What’s Next?

 

Report for the named period of May, 2000 / June, 2001 as prepared by Linda Rosenthal was distributed to members present; references past accomplishments beginning December 7, 1994 bringing it up to date.  Focus for the Diversity Advisory Council has changed and the purpose of today is to determine the next steps, membership and where we are going to go and how we are going to accomplish what needs to be done.

 

 

III.               Membership

 

Dr. Cárdenas addressed the membership; restating the need to determine who the people were going to participate in this activity under the new structure.  Reviewed the reformed name of the group as the Diversity Advisory Council which has become a CEC council which reports to CEC and then in turn to the Chancellor.  As an advisory council we have the responsibility of reviewing what exists regarding diversity but providing recommendations as to what needs to take place as the result of findings as well as to provide input on the different activities we have at the colleges.

 

Reinforced that diversity is a top priority of the MCCD Governing Board, being a primary goal/objective which means the Diversity Advisory Council will be very visible.

 

Opened discussion of the makeup of the Council; Dr. Cárdenas and Linda Rosenthal had some recommendations to make for review.

 

1.      Continue to have 12 college coordinators participation consisting of 10 from the colleges, 1 from the Skill Center and 1 from District Office; college president to continue to make the appointments of the coordinators; need a college coordinator chair.

2.      Continue to have all policy groups participation (5 +/-).

3.      Continue to have all special interest/constituency groups participation (6 +/-).

4.      Continue to have Deans of Instruction, Students, and add Administration.

5.      Continue to include Diversity Advisory Council known Committee Chairs including

      Curriculum and Communication.

 

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6.      A college president will be selected to tri-chair with Dr. Cárdenas and Linda Rosenthal; this appointment will be made through the CEC to serve.

7.      Continue to have representation from the resource staff and the legal department staff.

 

Reinforced that the Council members will need to serve as “active” participants.

 

Direction given to have memorandum sent to all named groups/organizations respectively requesting that each of the group appoint/designate their representative.

 

IV.              Other

 

Reopened discussion of the Role of the Committee for review.  Appearance/perception that since it is a CEC council, it will have a higher visibility since the discussions that will take place at the DAC meetings will be going to CEC discussions for either actions or activity.

 

Role as an advisory council will be:

 

1.      Listen and discuss concerns and develop recommendations.  This will be to get input from the college community and identify what is important for the DAC.

2.      Needs are to be discussed at the DAC meetings.

3.      If it is determined by the DAC that a recommendation needs to be made that they be made as appropriate. Exception of this would perhaps be that of the activities of the Communication and Curriculum Infusion Projects that Linda Thor and Bonnie Gray head

4.      Continue climate study which will be made as part of a report to be made at the next meeting of the findings; this will generate discussion and/or recommendations to be made.

5.      Development by Teresa Toney of the indicators that are going to be used to monitor the

Governing Board’s goals.  Suggested that a few people be appointed to work with her, so that a recommendation can be brought back at the next meeting to firm up the indicators that will be able to be part of her report which is due in February, 2002 which is to be part of monitoring all of the Board goals to see how they are doing.

 

Two part goal, one being monitored by Gerry Bradshaw from the EEO office and the other regarding the climate which the DAC will need to be responsible for.  Coordinators will be very important to help to accomplish this.

 

Job description of the college coordinator distributed to members; description and role of the college coordinators open for discussion.  Dr. Cárdenas expressed view that the role of this person that assists the college in promoting diversity, supports diversity activities and assist the DAC in identifying what needs to be done to further promote diversity; used as a

 

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referral point from the college/unit; not someone that is used as an investigator at the college.  Further discussion held by members.

 

College coordinators should meet separately from the DAC meetings, reporting back to the DAC with any recommendations as a whole.

 

Role of the college coordinator would be key in assisting the college/unit in monitoring/ creating the indicators that need to be outlined by next meeting.

 

When appointing/addressing the duties of the college coordinator, it is important to stress the number of hours that will be needed for this person to perform the duties and responsibilities; estimated 27 hours per month would be more realistic to do the job.

 

Dr. Cárdenas indicated the number of hours needs to be brought to CEC in order to give the coordinators the time needed to do this job.  College president would ultimately make the determination but a minimum of 3 hours would need to be allowed to meet expectations.

 

Role of DAC activity reinforced by Dr. Cárdenas to review, to monitor and recommending.

 

Discussion of staff development and training opened.  Determined this is a Human Resource function which includes this activity.    Brief report made by Pat Honzay of examples of some of the training activities going on.  Success rate discussed on types of training being offered which may need by the Employee and Organizational Learning team to look at the area of diversity training to see whether the right things are being offered.  Pat Honzay reinforced what steps are taken in determining the types of programs being offered; college coordinators are being involved in making determinations as to programs  being offered/provided, and appropriateness for the colleges.

 

Anyone who may wish to participate or provide names of those who would like to assist Teresa Toney in preparing the indicators to be forwarded to Pat Honzay to provide to Teresa Toney.  Discussion was held and a call was made for anyone who may wish to participate, or provide names of those who would like to assist Teresa Toney in preparing the indicators to be forwarded to Pat Honzay (that relates to employee training needs).  Rachel Hollingsworth named as one to assist.

 

Bonnie Gray brought forward a recommendation from the Infusion Committee regarding the establishment of a diversity materials area at each college library for reference use by each college to assist faculty for this subject.  Dr. Cárdenas requested a price for a program of this nature to purchase materials relating to diversity be prepared and presented to the

 

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DAC so a recommendation can be made during the District budget process.  How these materials will be purchased will be based on whatever the committee makes up so  that if we get the money, we expend it to indeed meet the needs of the colleges district-wide.  This structure would need to be set up.  Current participants would make recommendations on how this money would be expended for the purchase of these materials.    Bonnie Gray to prepare proposal.

 

 

V.                 Next Meeting

 

Announced that the next meeting will be held December 7, 2001 not November 30, 2001.  It will be held in the District Office Employees Lounge from 2-4:00 p.m.

 

Agenda for next meeting

 

1.      College coordinators report of activities through Marie Parker after her meeting with these coordinators which would include activities, services, programs taking place this fall at the colleges as well as any issues that have been identified by them relating to program services.

2.      Discussion on the student/staff survey that is hoped to be put into place.

3.      College coordinators headed by Marie Parker who will coordinate their activities to look at our current mission goals of the Diversity committee as it existed and revise it to reflect what it is we are doing now.

4.      Committee reporting from Teresa Toney’s area with suggested indicators.

5.      Communications and Curriculum Infusion Committee will continue and be prepared to report at next meeting.

 

Meeting adjourned at 3:00 p.m.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Approved as Amended by DAC – 12/07/01