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Governance Minutes ArchiveMarch 20, 1991
University Committee on Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action March 20, 1991 Present Alan Bayer, Virgil Cook, Laurie Good, Randy Grayson, Jane Harrison, Janine Hiller, Melissa Holland, Joan Kalnitsky-Aliff, Michael Lambur, Kathy Lewis, Gail Lopes, Patricia Morris, Cornel Morton, Charlotte Pratt, Nancy Simmons, Wayne Speer, Gwen Ewing (for Doris Evans) Absent: Susan Asselin, Robin Ball, Allison Ballew, Doretha Butler, Mark Flora, Muriel Flynn, Michele Holmes, Patricia Hyer, Deborah Ho, Dennis Jones, Dawn Maxey, Harry Pence, Chris Tayloe, Linda Woodard, Glenn Valentine Cornel Morton called the meeting to order at 2:00 p.m. 1. ADOPTION OF AGENDA The agenda was adopted as submitted. 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES The minutes from the meeting of February 12th were approved as submit- ted. 3. ANNOUNCEMENTS o Dr. Morton announced that Women's Week 1991 will take place during the first week in April. He highlighted the "Take Back the Night" rally and march on Thursday, April 4th, from 6:00 to 8:30 p.m. o Dr. Morton informed the Committee that the Sexual Harassment Policy received unanimous approval from University Council. Copies of the policy have been distributed to deans, directors, and department heads. 4. ONGOING BUSINESS a. CUSTODIAL LEAVE POLICY Dr. Morton stated that he had met recently with Mr. Wyatt Sasser, who indicated that the policy was "on trial" this year and would be reevaluated in August, 1991. Dr. Morton reiterated his belief that the policy unfairly discriminates against custodians and should be revoked. b. EEO SPECIALIST POSITION Dr. Morton reported that the Equal Opportunity Office is in the process of evaluating applications for the EEO Specialist position, vacated by Ms. Mona Edwards. He noted that over 50 applications were received, several of them well-qualified for the post. The selection committee, comprised of Joan Kalnitsky-Aliff, Virgil Cook, Patricia Morris, Carol Burger, Muriel Flynn, Della Marshall, Charles Pinder, Michele Holmes, Brian McConnell, and Cornel Morton will decide on at least three finalists to bring on campus for interviews. Dr. Morton stated that he hoped to have the position filled by mid to late-May. Dr. Morton also informed the Committee that Laretta King, Extension EEO Specialist, will be retiring ef- fective July 1. He was not able to predict whether or not the po- sition would be filled upon her departure. c. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS SUBCOMMITTEE ON DISABILITY CONCERNS Dr. Cook announced that $2500 had been made available for a permanent wheelchair ramp adjacent to Cowgill Hall. Mr. Speer also noted that work was in progress to recast the curb-cuts at the main entrance to the drillfield, near War Memorial Chapel, as the current ones tend to retain excess water. He then in- formed the Committee that there are now 130 disabled students on this campus, most of them learning disabled. Mr. Speer also announced that Susan Asselin, Associate Professor of Vocational & Technical Education, and Cherry Houck, Professor of Curric- ulum and Instruction, were awarded $2,500 from the Affirmative Action Incentive Grants Program. Their project, for which Mr. Speer will serve as a resource person, will develop an informa- tion guide and a videotape designed to increase faculty and staff awareness and support of students with specific learning disabilities. Dr. Cook also reported that the subcommittee is considering the formation of a new campus-wide Disability Concerns Advisory Committee that would report directly to the EO/AA Committee. This proposed committee, comprised of individuals from engi- neering, architecture, education, and administrative areas would review practices of accessibility, and physical and non- physical barriers to the disabled. SUBCOMMITTEE ON MINORITIES Patricia Morris reported that the subcommittee is developing a survey for minority faculty and staff. Using a model from Joyce Williams-Green, this questionnaire will canvas the atti- tudes and experiences of minorities at Virginia Tech. She in- dicated that the subcommittee would like to have it in place this semester. SUBCOMMITTEE ON WOMEN No report 5. NEW BUSINESS a. PHYSICAL PLANT WORKSHOP Dr. Morton informed the Committee that he has been working with Linda Woodard, Gail Lopes, Dennis Eavey, Muriel Flynn, and Carl Gilbert on the presentation of a number of workshops for Physical Plant personnel. These diversity training workshops, he elabo- rated, incorporate the "trainer of trainers" model in a top-to- bottom method of education. Dr. Morton noted that there were several additional workshops planned for the Physical Plant area. b. CAMPUS AND CLASSROOM CLIMATE WORKSHOP Dr. Morton reported that there was another Campus and Classroom Climate Workshop scheduled for April 1st at the CEC. He also stated that the membership of this committee is becoming more in- clusive, adding several new members this year. Dr. Morton noted that he hopes to expand the repertoire of workshops offered by the Campus and Classroom Climate Committee to include workshops ad- dressing the concerns of other constituency groups across the cam- pus. He encouraged EO/AA Committee members to contact him with their suggestions for future training workshops. c. PROPOSED RECOMPOSITION OF UNIVERSITY COMMISSIONS AND COMMITTEES Laurie Good described the process by which the university's commis- sions and committees might be restructured to make them more inclu- sive and accountable to University Council and the President. The proposed report, to be discussed and possibly approved by Univer- sity Council this year, shows that the EO/AA Committee would report to the Commissions on Faculty Affairs and the Commission on Classi- fied Staff Affairs. Dr. Morton assured Committee members that he would keep them informed of those discussions. d. EXCEPTIONAL OPPORTUNITY PROGRAM Dr. Bayer requested an update on the above named program. By way of explanation, Dr. Morton provided some background about the pro- gram, stating that a department can legally abbreviate its search process to hire a woman or minority. As he recalled, there have been at least eight recent offers extended to African-American fac- ulty (six or seven of these offers were to women), with one accept- ance at this time. Dr. Bayer requested that this topic be included as an agenda item at the April EO/AA Committee meeting. The meeting adjourned at 3:15 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Laurie S. Good Executive Secretary
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