12/2/10

The meeting took place on Thursday December 2, 2010 at 4:30 PM in Lighty 405, and was led by the chair of the Planning Committee, Mary Sánchez-Lanier (MSL), and Alex Tan (AT).

Planning Committee members in attendance: Kenneth Casavant, Chad Hamill, Michael Holloman, Lincoln James, Brian McNeill, and Ana M. Rodríguez-Vivaldi. (Ray Quock could not be present.)

Agenda and Discussion

1. MSL acknowledged the contributions of Michael Pavel and Julia Pomerenck who were also part of the committee last year.
2. AT provided some background information on how the association was conceived, and expectations for the future, and announced the date for the next meeting, to take place on January 19^th 4:30-6:00. This meeting will be hosted by President Floyd and Provost Bayly, with a Q&A period. Place to be determined.
3. Attendees reviewed the proposed mission of the new association and it approved in full, as follows:
   • "The mission of the new association is to bring together faculty and other members of the university community with a shared vision of inclusiveness whose commitment is to increase and support faculty, student and staff diversity at all ranks through recruitment, retention, and advancement and, through these effort, work to sustain the continued development of a positive climate for our academic community as a whole."
   • "Diversity defined by WSU as inclusiveness of thought, cultures, life experiences and perspectives, diversity is manifested in a faculty, staff and student body that represents all of the populations that the university serves including, but not limited to, the diversity in race, ethnicity and gender."
4. A decision was made by the group to allow graduate students who hold TA or RA positions to be active participants in the association
5. A general discussion of potential goals for the association included the following suggestions/issues:
   • Recruitment and retention of faculty, staff and students: Need for additional resources
   • Assess departmental/units current infrastructure as it relates to diversity climate
   • Conduct a survey of current recruitment/retention best practices to share strategies for success in recruitment and retention efforts; assess how to put ideas into action
   • Consider what the diversity needs/goals/issues are for WSU as an institution, and how every position advertised can help in promoting those goals; use existing recruitment templates to write descriptive language into each position that can ensure the recruitment of pro-diversity candidates
   • Explore what is already being done campus-wide successfully to enhance diversity. Promote it as a marketing strategy to enhance WSU's visibility as a diversity-friendly environment
6. Officers for the new association were nominated, some in absentia. Elections will be carried by e-mail once candidates accept and bio information can be gathered. The following members were nominated:
   1. For President:
      1. Lincoln James
      2. Brian McNeill
      3. Víctor Villanueva (to be confirmed)
   2. For Vice-President
      1. Lisa McIntyre (to be confirmed)
      2. Steven Bischoff (to be confirmed) Stephen Bischoff??
      3. Barbara Aston
      4. Donna Paul (to be confirmed)
   3. For Treasurer
      1. Chio Flores
   4. For Secretary
      1. Ana M. Rodríguez-Vivaldi
7. Refreshments were provided courtesy of Alex Tan. Thanks, Alex!!