CODRE

Minutes 02-08-08

Page One

Present:  James, Brown, Joan D’Antoni, Vaquita Doss Bunton, Joy Carew, Robin Harris, Bryan Hicks, Vicki Hines-Martin, Irving Joshua, Barbara King, Edward Laster, Linda Lewis, Weiling Liu, Georgette Moore, Kathy Pendleton, Wendi Sachs, Prafula Sheth, Mordean Taylor-Archer, Rosie Washington, Andrew Williams, Linda L. Wilson, Errol Wint Guests:  Thaddeus Dumas, Henry Cunningham (for Dan Hall)

Absent:  Aris Cedeno, Nannette Dix, Harvey Johnson, Sharon LaRue, John Ralston, and Gerald Tolson

Motion to Approve November minutes:  The Chair called for a motion to approve the minutes from November’s meeting.  Joy Carew made a motion to approve.  Motion was seconded by Wendi Sachs.  Motion passed after vote.  Note:  [The Commission did not meet in January 2008.  The Law School's symposium on the Meredith case and a Commemorative Service for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. all fell on the same day].  Commissioners were encouraged to attend one or both events.  CODRE was a co-sponsor of the Law Symposium.  Ed Laster's Office (MAEP) is in charge of the MLK annual event. 

Signature Partnership:  The Signature Partnership is a University initiative in an effort to enhance the quality of life and economic opportunity for residents of West Louisville.  During FY 2003-2004, the university was engaged in more than 1,400 community partnerships or programs.  Many of these projects were the efforts of individual faculty, staff, or departments rather than part of a coordinated university strategy.  Henry Cunningham met with the Commission to update them about the Partnership.  Program Goals & Objectives include education, economic development, social and human services and health.  Effort to reach the community are being made:

Through education by:

• Raising reading, math, and science skills to grade level
• Raising the percentage of residents with a high school diploma to that of the community average
• Raising the percentage of residents with a bachelor's degree to that of the community average

Economic Development by:

• Raising employment level of residents of target area
• Raising average wage paid by target area businesses
• Increasing number of businesses in target area
• Increasing number of businesses owned by target area residents

Social and Human Services:

• Reduce substance abuse
• Reduce youth violence
• Provide safe, quality environments for dependent individuals, including the elderly and disabled

Health Care:

• Reduce infant mortality
• Increase life expectancy
• Reduce chronic illnesses (e.g., cancer, cardiovascular disease, and mental health) through early identification and treatment                      

Committee Reports

• Diversity Programming Committee Report:  Programming Chair, Linda Wilson made brief report.  Report attached. 

• The International Banquet funded by CODRE on February 23, 2008 ($10 tickets).

• Faculty and Staff Concerns Committee Report:  Chair Irving Joshua gave a brief update.  Report attached.

• Student Concerns Committee Report:  Chair Andrew Williams gave a brief report of student activities.  His report is attached.

Diversity Provost Update

Dr. Taylor-Archer reported that the University of Louisville was successful in meeting 7 of 8 of the goals mandated by the CPE.

She also talked briefly about the presentation of the President’s first Diversity Vision Award.  The award will recognize efforts to advance diversity and inclusion at the University of Louisville since the inception of the Diversity Plan.  The winner of the Diversity Vision Award will be selected by March 1, 2008. The winner of the first award will be recognized at the Celebration of Diversity event March 17, 2008.  Keynote speaker will be Patrick Hughes and his father at 3 p.m. in Bigelow Hall.

Chair’s Update: 

·        Letter to Provost:  Chair Hines-Martin will draft a letter from CODRE to the Provost regarding how diversity initiatives will be affected as a result of the January 30, 2008 budget cuts. 

o       Other discussion included ongoing support for LGBT services; service for LGBT will not be downgraded.  Two restrooms for trans-gendered individuals will be designated;

·        HR Policies Committees:  John Ralston sent emails to CODRE and the COSW asking that both Commissions send representatives to work on several HR Policy Committees.  HR requested two members each from the COSW, CODRE and Staff Senate to participate on the Staff Grievance Policy Committee.  Linda Wilson and Kathy Pendleton volunteered to work on Salary Administration Policy Review Committee; Wendi Sach will serve on the Leave Policies Workgroup.  Chair Hines-Martin asked that individuals interested in serving on a committee forward their names to Georgette who will correspond with HR.

·        Web Translation:  At Chair Hines-Martin direction, there was discussion to include a welcome greeting to the University’s diverse population on the CODRE website.  The welcome will be translated in Hindi, Mandarin Chinese, Arabic and Spanish.  Joy Carew, Prafula Sheth and Weiling Liu agreed to work as ad-hoc committee to oversee translations. 

·        International Center:  Joy reported that International students and staff are still being served.

CODRE Bylaws:  Time did not permit Ed Laster to make his report at this meeting.  He will make a report at the March meeting.  Copies of his report were distributed to members of the Commission at this meeting.

Announcements:  Robin Harris announced the Kentucky Women’s Book Festival

February 16, 2008, 9:00am – 5:00pm of University Louisville, Ekstrom Library.  The event is sponsored by the Women’s Center.  Registration is $25 for the luncheon; workshops are free.

School of Nursing:  Chair Hines-Martin announced that the School of Nursing will present: Interracial Hospital Movement at noon of February 18 at Kornhauser Library.  The forum is open to the public.

Meeting adjourned.