April 29, 2009
The seventh meeting of the University Diversity Committee of the 2008-2009 academic year was April 29, 2009, at the Baldwin House. Dr. Maria Santamarina called the meeting to order at approximately 3:45 p.m. In addition to Dr. Santamarina, 20 other committee members attended: Clevis Headley, El Pagnier Hudson, Paula Behul, Ethlyn Williams, Susan Folden, Josephine Beoku-Betts, Zhongwei Li, Miguel Angel Vazquez, Marques Johnson, Naelys Diaz, Rozalia Williams, Maple McCleod, Edwin Bemmel, Carol Lewis, Barbara Schoen, Michelle Brown, Branday Edelson, Gary Wolff, Jacqui May and Randy Goin.
Minutes from the March 18 meeting were reviewed and no changes were requested.
Discussions
Co-chair Santamarina announced that the Diversity Committee, due to the receptivity of the Women’s Leadership Forum and conversations with Dr. Kristen Murtaugh and El Pagnier Hudson, would launch a university-wide women’s mentoring program for the new faculty/staff/administration in the Fall. Santamarina advised committee members that she had done extensive research on national university women’s mentoring programs and had found one that could be easily replicated in the FAU community.
The primary goal of the mentoring program is to involve women faculty/staff/administration in mentoring relationships that would help them in their personal and professional development and advancement. FAU’s program would be implemented as a support network for women faculty/staff/administration, strengthen the university’s culture by improving the climate for FAU women and provide resources for their personal advancement.
El Pagnier Hudson gave committee members a brief history of past FAU mentoring programs, such as the LEAP Program. Santamarina asked committee members to volunteer to serve on the women’s mentoring program sub-committee, which would start meeting in late August to spearhead launching of the university-wide mentoring program. All those interested should e-mail Maria Santamarina at msantam3@fau.edu.
Dr. Headley reported that a draft of FAU’s Diversity Committee’s 2008-2009 Diversity Report had been completed. The report was prepared by Santamarina and Headley and will be distributed to the Board of Trustees once completed.
This report includes the following sections:
• 2008-2009 Diversity Report Overview
• Operational Strategy for 2008-2009
• University Diversity Committee Structure
• 2008-2009 Objectives: Review and Accounting
• Community Outreach
• Witnessing Diversity at FAU
• Diversity Trends for FTIC-First Time-In-College-Students
• Diversity Employment Trends
• Diversity Trends for Degrees Awarded
• Colleges and Departments Diversity Reports.
Dr. Headley also reported that the Diversity Committee will be the clearinghouse for Heritage Month activities/events during the 2009-2010 Academic Year. He will request volunteers to serve on the Heritage Month Sub-Committee during the summer.
Announcements
• First meeting of the 2009/2010 academic year will be September 16, 2009 at 2 p.m. in the Board of Trustees Conference Room on the third floor of the Administration Building.
• Five diversity trainings were conducted university-wide from February through April 2009 on the Boca Raton, Treasure Coast and Davie campuses.
• Collaboration with Nova Southeastern University – University Diversity officer, Maria Santamarina and Nova have created the South Florida Diversity Alliance. On April 22, 2009, Maria Santamarina and Terry Morrow from Nova were appointed co-chairs of the alliance. This alliance includes representation from the following universities and colleges in South Florida: FAU, Nova Southeastern University, St. Thomas University, Barry University, Lynn University, University of Miami, Broward College, Florida Memorial College and Florida International University. The diversity alliance seeks to unite the higher education community in South Florida to support and promote diversity awareness, competence and inclusion. It is committed to promoting collaboration, empowerment and communication between the individuals and groups that are working to increase awareness and competence on diversity issues that affect people in our community. This will be done through monthly dialogues and planning meetings, diversity-related events, an inclusive/interactive/information-rich website that lists information about collective efforts, ongoing outreach and openness to partners and ideas, advancing scholarship in the field of diversity, providing a clearinghouse for diversity-related information and professional speaking and training. The alliance is working on the following collaborative diversity events for the 2009-2010 academic year: a Diversity Summit tentatively scheduled for November 7, 2009 at Nova Southeastern University and an Interfaith Symposium tentatively scheduled for January 2010 at FAU. It can be noted that in forming the South Florida Diversity Alliance, Santamarina discovered that FAU is the only institution in the higher learning community in South Florida that has a designated diversity officer. This is another example of FAU’s demonstrated commitment to diversity and inclusion.
President Brogan thanked committee members for serving on the diversity committee during the year and acknowledged their hard work and contributions.
Dr. Santamarina adjourned the meeting at approximately 4:30 p.m. A reception followed.
March 18, 2009
The sixth University Diversity Committee meeting of the 2008-2009 academic year was March 18, 2009, in the Board of Trustees Conference Room. Dr. Maria Santamarina called the meeting to order at 2:08 p.m. In addition to Dr. Santamarina, 18 other committee members attended the meeting: Clevis Headley, El Pagnier Hudson, Paula Behul, Ethlyn Williams, Susan Folden, Michelle Brown, Josephine Beoku-Betts, Henry Hutchinson, Zhongwei Li, Miguel Angel Vazquez, Marques Johnson, Patty Singer, Naelys Diaz, Kristen Murtaugh, Rozalia Williams, Mate Thitisawat, Edwin Bemmel, Julie Pettingill via video-conference and Maple McCleod via video-conference.
Nicole Rokos, director, Office for Students with Disabilities, and Stuart Buckley, coordinator of Assistive Technology, Office for Students with Disabilities, attended the meeting as guest speakers. Randy Goin, FAU chief of staff and Board of Trustees liaison, also attended.
Minutes from the February 18 meeting were reviewed and no changes were requested.
Discussions
Committee member Susan Folden invited Nicole Rokos, director of the office for Students with Disabilities (OSD), and Stuart Buckley, coordinator of assistive technology with the OSD to advise committee members on issues regarding students with disabilities and the services offered by OSD. Rokos discussed the mission of OSD, initiating services, types of disabilities experienced by the student body and the types of accommodations offered by OSD. Buckley discussed the assistive technologies offered by OSD. Rokos and Buckley ended their presentation by delineating the demographics of OSD students at FAU and concerns raised by the student population. A brief question and answer period followed.
Next, committee members discussed and agreed to support and partner with Toward A More Perfect Union on their Stand Against Hate Campaign to raise awareness in Palm Beach County on the prevalence and injustices of hate crimes. This is especially necessary since Broward County ranks Number 1 in Florida for reported Hate Crimes and Florida ranks third in the nation for the number of “Hate Groups’ in the state. According to the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), Florida is home to 56 hate groups, including three in Fort Lauderdale, two in Miami, one in Lake Worth and one in West Palm Beach.
Announcements
• During the Spring 2009 semester, Dr. Maria Santamarina, university diversity officer, on the Boca campus conducted two Diversity 101 Trainings, one on February 11 and the other on February 25. Two Diversity 101 Trainings were conducted on the Port St. Lucie Campus on March 17. The next Diversity Trainings will be conducted on the Davie campus.
• Collaboration with Nova Southeastern University – University Diversity Officer, Maria Santamarina and Nova Southeastern University have created the South Florida Diversity Alliance. This alliance seeks to unite the higher education community in South Florida to support and promote diversity awareness and competence. It is the individuals and groups who are working to increase awareness and competence on diversity issues, which affect all people in our community. This will be done through monthly dialogues and planning meetings, diversity-related events, a website that lists information about collective efforts and ongoing outreach and openness to partners and ideas. We are working on the following collaborative diversity events for next year: a Diversity Summit, which is tentatively scheduled for November 2009 at Nova Southeastern University and an Interfaith Symposium, which is tentatively scheduled for January 2010 at Florida Atlantic University.
• Josephine Beoku-Betts, director of Women’s Studies Center, announced Women’s History Month events and activities which span from March 10 through April 3, 2009.
Dr. Maria Santamarina adjourned the meeting at approximately 3:08 p.m. The last Diversity Committee meeting of the 2008-2009 academic year will be Wednesday, April 29, 2009, from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. at the Baldwin House. There will be a reception following the meeting. Video-conferencing will not be available for this meeting.
February 18, 2009
The fifth University Diversity Committee meeting of the 2008-2009 academic year was held on February 18, 2009, in the Board of Trustees Conference Room. Dr. Maria Santamarina called the meeting to order at approximately 2:05 p.m.
In addition to Santamarina, 20 other committee members attended the meeting. They were Clevis Headley, El Pagnier Hudson, MaryBeth Scott, Paula Behul, Ethlyn Williams, Susan Folden, Michelle Brown, Josephine Beoku-Betts, Elizabeth Rubin, Gary Wolff, Henry Hutchinson, Zhongwei Li, Miguel Angel Vazquez, Marques Johnson, Patty Singer, Naelys Diaz, Charles Dukes, Kristen Murtaugh, Rozalia Williams, Mate Thitisawat, Jacqui May, Julie Pettingill via video-conference, Maple McCleod via video-conference and Dr. James Kumi-Diaka via video-conference.
Also in attendance were the following guest speakers: Dr. Charles Brown, vice president of student affairs; Dr. Corey King, dean of students; FAU Police Chief Charles Lowe, and Jane Tierney, director of Toward A More Perfect Union. Other guests included Marta I. Cruz .
Minutes from the January 21st meeting were reviewed and no changes were requested.
Discussions
Dr. Brown, Dr. King and Chief Lowe were invited to the Diversity Committee meeting to advise committee members on the prevalence of Hate Crimes on campus and the procedures the university follows to raise awareness and address Hate Crimes university-wide.
Chief Lowe commenced the discussion with the legal definition of a hate crime and explanation that the definition has now been expanded by the Cleary Act. He also explained that the definition of a hate crime under federal legislation is broader in scope than the state legislation. Chief Lowe advised us that bias motivated crimes are usually under reported. Hate crimes are investigated like any other crime.
Dr. King advised committee members that raising awareness and addressing Hate Crimes on campus is a collaborative effort which necessitates the involvement of many university units including but limited to: the Dean of Students, the Office of Multicultural Affairs, Health Promotion and Psychological Counseling. All Resident Advisors are trained on issues regarding Hate Crimes and Student Orientations cover issues of Diversity and Hate Crimes.
Most importantly, Dr. King advised committee members that FAU has instituted the Student Crisis Intervention Committee, which meets biweekly to discuss students who have exhibited violent and/or threatening tendencies. This committee responds proactively to student problems to create and maintain a Safe Campus environment.
El pagnier Hudson advised committee members that university employees also have resources available if they feel they are victims of a Hate Crime. Employees can seek advice and guidance from the Human Resources Department and the Office of Equal Opportunity. The university also has implemented Diversity Trainings sessions conducted by Maria Santamarina, diversity officer, university-wide.
Next, Jane Tierney, director of Toward a More Perfect Union, advised committee members on her agency. The mission of Toward a More Perfect Union is “to effect constructive change on race, culture, and other issues of difference in Palm Beach County through dialogue, education and civic action.” Their current programming includes community-wide Study Circles, Youth Study Circles and Intergenerational Study Circles.
Most importantly, Jane Tierney invited the University Diversity Committee to become involved in their Stand Against Hate Campaign to raise awareness in Palm Beach County on the prevalence and injustices of hate crimes. This is especially necessary since Broward County ranks No. 1 in the State of Florida for reported Hate Crimes and the state of Florida ranks third in the nation for the number of “Hate Groups’ in the state. According to the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), Florida is home to 56 hate groups, including three in Fort Lauderdale, two in Miami, one in Lake Worth and one in West Palm Beach.
Announcements
• Two Diversity 101 Trainings will be offered by Dr. Maria Santamarina, University Diversity Officer, at the Port St. Lucie Campus on March 17, from 9 to 11:30 and from 1to 3:30 p.m. in room MP 113, Port St. Lucie Campus. Employees can register online at http://fau.timetrade.com.
• Collaboration with Nova Southeastern University – Co-chair Maria Santamarina advised committee members that she and Nova are currently working on the following collaborative diversity events for next year: a Diversity Summit which is tentatively calendared for November 2009 at Nova Southeastern University and an Interfaith Symposium tentatively scheduled for January 2010 at Florida Atlantic University.
• Collaboration with Toward More Perfect Union – Co-Chair Maria Santamarina advised committee members that she and Toward a More Perfect Union are working on the following collaborative diversity projects for the 2009-2010 school year: Creation of a Coalition of Agencies that implement Study Circles in Palm Beach County; implementation of diversity programs at FAU for the community; internship opportunities for third and fourth year students; implementation of “America’s Table” at FAU; implementation of a Dialogue Series; collaboration with Stand Against Hate Campaign.
• Co-chair Clevis Headley announced that on February 20th, 2009, the College of Arts and Letters has organized an all day event titled “Consumerism and Commercialism: A Black Music Symposium.” This event will provide the entire university community with an opportunity to learn about recent developments in the tradition of black music.
• Josephine Beoku-Betts, Director of Women’s Studies Center, announced Women’s History Month events and activities which span from March 10 through April 3, 2009.
Dr. Maria Santamarina adjourned the meeting at approximately 3:20 p.m.
The next Diversity Committee meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, March 18, 2009. The time of the meeting is 2- 3: 30 p.m. in the Board of Trustees Conference Room on the third floor of the Administration Building. Video-conferencing will be available.
