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Governance Minutes ArchiveSeptember 11, 1990
UNIVERSITY COMMITTEE ON EQUAL OPPORTUNITY/AFFIRMATIVE ACTION SEPTEMBER 11, 1990 PRESENT: Susan Asselin, Robin Ball, Allison Ballew, Virgil Cook, Mona Gillis Edwards, Doris Evans, Joan Kalnitsky-Aliff, Muriel Flynn, Randy Grayson, Jane Harrison, Jeannie Hiller, Melissa Holland, Michele Holmes, Pat Hyer, Mike Lambur, Kathy Lewis, Pat Morris, Cornel Morton, Barbara O'Neal, Nancy Simmons, Wayne Speer, Glenn Valentine ABSENT: Alan Bayer, Paula Dail, Mark Flora, Dennis Jones, Chris Tayloe Cornel Morton called the meeting to order at 2:10 p.m. 1. WELCOME AND INTRODUCTIONS Cornel Morton initiated the meeting by inviting members to introduce themselves. He then explained that the University Committee on Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action reports to the President through the Of- fice of EO/AA. Dr. Morton also informed members that minutes and agenda items/attachments would be distributed at least 7 working days prior to each meeting. 2. ADOPTION OF AGENDA The agenda was adopted as distributed. 3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES The minutes from the meeting of May 29, 1990 were approved as distrib- uted. 4. ANNOUNCEMENTS o Dr. Morton announced that the 1990-91 "Breakfast With . . ." series will begin on Friday, September 14th, with a program entitled "The Changing University: Campus Climate, Classroom Climate, and Cur- riculum." The speakers, Drs. Johnnella Butler and John Walter, from the University of Washington, are visiting campus by invita- tion of the Curriculum Transformation Project. o Dr. Morton then noted an upcoming forum on racism, "Racism 101," on Thursday, September 27th, at the Wesley Foundation, from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. o October 5th is the date for a teleconference on the "Campus Re- sponse to Racial Harassment." Jointly sponsored by the Virginia Tech Police Department, the Division of Student Affairs, Campus Ministers, and the EO/AA Office, this program is scheduled from 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. at the Wesley Foundation. o Dr. Morton announced a second teleconference, "Effective Approaches to Campus Security," on November 15th, from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m., at the Wesley Foundation. o Dr. Morton also informed committee members that the 1990-91 "Faculty/Administrator Black Student Mentor Program" will be inau- gurated with a reception on Monday, September 24th, from 5:00 to 6:30 p.m., at the CEC. He invited EO/AA Committee members to par- ticipate in the program and to attend the opening reception. Al- though the program is designed to provide mentoring for black freshmen, Dr. Morton added that he hoped the program could be ex- panded to include juniors and seniors. 5. NEW BUSINESS a. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS: SUBCOMMITTEE ON WOMEN In the absence of co-chairs Pat Hyer (who arrived late) and Anne Zajac, Dr. Morton reported that much of the work done by the com- mittee last year involved updating the sexual harassment policy statement, which required extensive modification. It is expected that the policy will be endorsed this year. b. SUBCOMMITTEE ON MINORITIES Patricia Morris reminded committee members that during the past year her subcommittee had reevaluated the "Year 2000" report and its accompanying recommendations. She added that this year's sub- committee agenda includes examining and editing the exit survey for faculty. c. SUBCOMMITTEE ON DISABILITY CONCERNS Dr. Cook reported that during 1989-90 the subcommittee drafted the document, "Guidelines for Employees with Disabilities." He noted that in spite of budget cuts an elevator will be installed in Price Hall. Dr. Cook also mentioned the purchase of a $13,000 reading machine for Newman Library to replace an unreliable older model. In terms of this year's agenda, Dr. Cook remarked that with the pas- sage of the Federal "Rights of the Disabled" act, the university would probably have to consider more affirmative action guidelines for the disabled. Dr. Cook asked individuals who were interested in serving on this subcommittee to contact him at 1-6568. 6. OTHER BUSINESS a. AFFIRMATIVE ACTION PLAN UPDATE TO SCHEV Dr. Morton reported that the annually completed plan contains Tech's affirmative action goals -- primarily targeted at black fac- ulty, staff and students. It was submitted to SCHEV on June 26, 1990, but has not yet generated any response from Richmond. Dr. Morton distributed a copy to each of the subcommittee chairs and asked that they share the document with their committee members. He explained that excessive copying charges prohibited distributing it to every EO/AA Committee member. b. CIVILITY STATEMENT Dr. Morton explained that the proposal for a Civility Statement stems from Secretary of Education, James Dyke's efforts to improve campus climate in Virginia. Secretary Dyke issued an announcement during a recent meeting with SCHEV indicating that he was concerned about racial incidents, homophobia, and other discriminatory prob- lems occurring on Virginia's campuses. In response, he asked that SCHEV issue broad guidelines to colleges and universities on how to go about developing a civility statement. Dr. Morton stated his intention to form an inclusive committee of campus/community people to talk about how Virginia Tech can respond to this mandate. Dr. Morton then reviewed some of initiatives already in place at Tech that have addressed the issue of campus climate. He anticipates that the requested "statement" would develop into more of a plan on how Virginia Tech is going to address the issue of harassment. Dr. Morton invited individuals who are interested in working on this plan to contact him. c. OFCCP AAP UPDATE Dr. Morton explained that the affirmative action plan update re- quired by the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs is due on January 1, 1991. A technical assistance meeting with OFCCP of- ficials in Richmond is scheduled for October 17, 1990, to discuss preparation of the Plan. d. AFFIRMATIVE ACTION PLAN BUDGET Dr. Morton explained that although the budget is still "unsettled" at this time, it is expected that $100,000 will be cut from the $600,000 university-wide account. Dr. Morton noted that these funds support a wide variety of activities and are shared among nu- merous divisions on campus including the Admissions' Office, the Graduate School, Personnel Services, the Dean of Students Office, and the Office of Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action. In discuss- ing ways to minimize the impact of these budget reductions, Dr. Morton noted that the EO/AA Committee could be an effective lobby- ing power on campus, as it reports directly to the President. Dr. Morton also spoke briefly about the need for greater committee vis- ibility on campus. e. EO/AA COMMITTEE RESTRUCTURING Mike Lambur inquired about the role of EO/AA Committee members on campus. For example, how does the committee communicate with their co-workers or constituency groups? Robin Ball responded that the subcommittee evaluating the mission, purpose and composition of the EO/AA Committee had discussed this and other related issues and would present its findings at the October meeting. Jane Harrison asked if she, as a committee member, could bring before the group the concerns of her co-workers? Dr. Morton responded that any item deemed relevant by a committee member could be included on the agenda. Discussion ensued about ways to achieve greater campus vis- ibility, as well as the need to take a more pro-active planning role. Dr. Morton suggested, for example, that the Committee con- sider sponsoring relevant seminars or workshops. He also advocates greater SPECTRUM coverage as a means of highlighting the Commit- tee's activities. One of the ideas generated by the subcommittee, as reported by Mona Edwards, is to stage "mini-forums" so that any individual on campus could express his or her concerns. Dr. Morton requested that prior to the October meeting each of the sub- committees discuss and recommend the ways and means for providing to the larger community both the knowledge and the wherewithal to make concerns known to the Committee. Discussion then ensued about the possibility of holding a retreat for new and ongoing committee members. Dr. Morton responded that there were no current plans to do so, but added that a lunchtime meeting would be arranged to educate new members about the function of the EO/AA Office and Committee. Dr. Hyer noted that hiring goals for women and other minorities were not included in the SCHEV Affirmative Action Plan. Dr. Morton indicated that the SCHEV AA Plan responds primarily to the Virginia desegregation plan which includes African-Americans as its princi- ple focus. The OFCCP AA Plan, due January 1, 1990, does include women and other minorities Dr. Morton indicated that he would like to attend the first meeting of each of the three subcommittees and asked that he be notified when they are to be held. He also informed members that he would distribute a list of 1990-91 EO/AA Committee members at the next meeting. The meeting adjourned at 3:30 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Laurie S. Good Executive Secretary
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