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Governance Minutes ArchiveDecember 17, 1991
University Committee on Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action December 17, 1991 Present: Robin Ball, Alan Bayer, David Bousquet, Marion Farmer, Muriel Flynn, Valerie Giddings, Laurie Good, Randy Grayson, Betty Greene, Michele Holmes, Pat Hyer, Cornel Morton, Harry Pence, Richard Sapon-White, Nancy Simmons, Ruth Smith (for Norrine Klein), Chris Tayloe Absent: Chris Broderick, Penny Burge, Virgil Cook, Melinda Emerson, Doris Evans, Jane Harrison, Richard Haymen, Melissa Holland, Dennis Jones, Noreen Klein, Alice LoMascolo, Sheri McConnell, Wayne Speer, Patricia Summers, Janet Tuckwiller, Linda Woodard Cornel Morton called the meeting to order at 2:00 p.m. 1. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FROM OCTOBER 15 AND NOVEMBER 19 Both sets of minutes were approved with corrections. 2. ANNOUNCEMENTS Cornel Morton announced that the Martin Luther King, Jr. Program, scheduled for January 15 at 7:00 p.m., will feature keynote speaker, Dr. Maulana Karenga, Chair of the Black Studies Program at California State University at Long Beach. The program will be held in the Colo- nial Room at Squires Student Center. 3. REPORT FROM DAVID BOUSQUET, DIRECTOR OF ADMISSIONS, ON THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION'S POSITION ON RACE-SPECIFIC SCHOLARSHIPS. As background, Mr. Bousquet related the history of these scholarships, especially as they relate to the "Adams States," where desegregation rulings required the dismantling of dual higher education systems. He explained that if proposed federal regulations governing these scholar- ships become mandatory, Virginia Tech will have four years to implement the new regulations. Mr. Bousquet stated his belief that the new pol- icy would have a dampening effect on recruitment, which is already problematic given the stiff competition for highly-qualified black high school graduates. In fact, Mr. Bousquet pointed out that the overall yield for black students dropped 11 points this year, compared to the university-wide average of 5 points. He attributed this to the fact that black students with high SAT/GPA scores are intensively recruited nationwide. He added that if financial aid opportunities are reduced, it will become even more difficult to attract minority students. He then described the three principle programs that provide financial assistance for minority students: the AIMS Program (Alliance for In- creasing Minority Success) which funds 11-12 students at a total of about $26,000 per year; the Academic Excellence Scholarships ($120,000 per year); and the Powell Scholarships ($120,000 per year). Thus, the total net worth of these scholarships is $266,000 per year -- a rela- tively small sum, he noted. Mr. Bousquet went on to describe how dif- ficult it is for students to maintain the required minimum QCA (usually 3.4) in order to retain these scholarships. He expressed his belief that Virginia Tech should abandon the minimum QCA requirements in favor of a community service component, as UVa has done. He concluded his discussion with the observation that further tuition hikes could also jeopardize Virginia Tech's ability to attract minority students. 4. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS a. SUBCOMMITTEE ON DISABILITY CONCERNS: Cornel Morton reported that he, Betty Greene, Virgil Cook, and Marion Farmer previewed an edu- cational videotape (produced by Cherry Houck, Professor of Curric- ulum and Instruction, and Susan Asselin, Associate Professor of Vocational and Technical Education) about the needs and problems faced by learning disabled college students. The tape will be shown to faculty members in conjunction with an informational work- shop about how better to accommodate the learning disabled. Dr. Morton informed the committee that he would show the videotape dur- ing the committee's January meeting. b. SUBCOMMITTEE ON WOMEN: Pat Hyer reported that the subcommittee is discussing ways to develop a more explicit section for the FACULTY HANDBOOK about the family leave policy for faculty members. She explained that although these benefits exist, they are not widely recognized. c. SUBCOMMITTEE ON MINORITY CONCERNS: No Report 5. OFCCP REVIEW Cornel Morton described the recent OFCCP (Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs) audit, during which Virginia Tech was awarded "a relatively clean bill of health" for its good-faith efforts in outreach and recruitment. The audit, focusing primarily on staff, included a review of recruitment/outreach efforts, screening and referral crite- ria, methods of checking references, and other related issues. Pat Hyer observed that faculty hiring is more complicated because it often becomes difficult to objectively measure the qualifications of candi- dates -- especially when taking into consideration such variables as the needs of the institution and "best fit" kinds of criteria. 6. FACULTY SEARCH PROCEDURES Cornel Morton and Pat Hyer described to the committee the new faculty search procedures. Dr. Morton distributed copies of the faculty search authorization form and the hiring activity record, both of which are new this year. In response to a question from Alan Bayer about the ma- jor procedural changes, Pat Hyer responded that the new system requires department heads, and especially deans, to be more accountable for re- cruiting strategies and hiring decisions. It also provides more com- prehensive applicant data for the EO/AA Office. Dr. Morton reported that although the new procedures have met with some resistance from faculty members concerned with issues of "academic freedom," they are now in effect. Alan Bayer expressed concern about the "predatory" advertising pricing rates in BLACK ISSUES IN HIGHER EDUCATION. He noted that although this publication has long been viewed as THE vehicle for attracting minority applicants, it actually provides few job applicants. Thus, he felt it would be unfair to force departments to use this publication, espe- cially given reduced operating budgets. Dr. Morton responded that the magazine is more useful in certain disciplines, such as the social sci- ences and education; other fields may require a different approach -- such as more person-to-person contact. He did point out, however, that departments are not required to advertise in this magazine. Pat Hyer then stressed that all departments need to consider more effective ways of diversifying job applicant pools. She added that departments will be encouraged to contact the EO/AA Office for more effective recruit- ment strategies. The meeting adjourned at 3:15 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Laurie S. Good Executive Secretary
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