CODRE

Minutes 08-10-07

Page One

Present:  Joy Carew, Vaquita Doss-Bunton, Robin Harris, Vicki Hines-Martin, Harvey Johnson, Sharon LaRue, Georgette Moore, Kathy Pendleton, John Ralston, Wendi Sachs, Gerald H. Tolson, Andrew Williams, Linda Wilson (Guests: Martha Fuller, Lynetta Weathers Mathis and Lundeana Thomas)

Absent: James Brown, Aris Cedeno, Nannette Dix, Bryan Hicks, J. Blaine Hudson, Irving Joshua, Barbara King, Ed Laster, Mordean Taylor-Archer

Call to Order/Minutes:  Chair Hines Martin opened the meeting and allowed guest to introduce themselves and thanked them for their interest in CODRE.  Dr. Thomas talked about the African American Theatre Arts Programs coming trip to China.  The theatre group is seeking financial support to fund the trip to at which three plays will be performed: Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughters, Seven Stops to Freedom and The New Harlem Renaissance Revue.  Dr. Thomas explained that the trip was planned as an effort to bridge cultural divide.  The Chinese have difficulty understanding the identity of African Americans or their place in American society.  Their belief is that all Americans are of European ancestry.  Chair Hines-Martin stated that Dr. Thomas’s application for funding would go before the Diversity Programming Committee, chaired by Commissioner Linda Wilson.  After that group makes a decision, they would then make a recommendation to CODRE’s Executive Board. 

The Chair asked for a review of the minutes from the June 8 meeting and then asked for motion to approve.  Commissioner Wilson noted that she was not present at the June meeting.  Commissioner Harris then made a motion to approve the minutes with the noted correction.   The motion was seconded by Commissioner Sachs and approved after vote.

Chair’s Report:  Chair Hines-Martin reported that she met with President Ramsey on May 29.  The ongoing issue discussed was CODRE’s operational budget.

• They began with what CODRE’s budget is.
• The number of requests for CODRE funding has increased and we have been unable to meet the increased need.
• At the suggestion of the President’s Office, it is anticipated that CODRE will be given additional funds for African American student initiatives.  These funds were previously channeled through the office of the Vice Provost for Diversity.
• CODRE will also be requesting additional funds for student initiatives to address the needs of a variety of diverse student populations.
• CODRE brings added value to the university.  CODRE is responsible for monitoring campus environment of faculty, staff and students and supporting a positive environment for diverse faculty, staff and students.  CODRE is unique from the Rapid Response Team and the Office of the Vice Provost for Diversity.  Currently our bylaws are under revision to better reflect our emphasis.  The Diversity Programming Committee is also revising their request for funding format to assist in that emphasis.

Committee Updates 

COSW:  Sharon LaRue, Vice Chair for the Commission on the Status of Women reported that the COSW held elections in June.  They are still waiting to hear from the Office of the President who their Chair is and also about the appointment of new members.

• FSHR:  Commissioner Sachs reported that this group is in the process of setting up a meeting in September.  Everything is on hold because of domestic partner benefits.  To Sachs’s knowledge the position for an LGBT director has not been posted yet.  No search committee is in place.  When asked about office space for LGBT, she noted that space in Davidson Hall has been authorized for an LGBT office but there is currently no one to staff the office.  Previous director, Cindy Conley, is no longer with the University.  Chair Hines-Martin promised to follow-up on the LGBT position.

• Staff Senate:  Commissioner Doss-Bunton reported that the Staff Senate had also held elections.  Brent Fryrear was elected Staff Senate Chair, Angela Lewis Klein, Vice Chair and Carol Davis, Secretary/Treasurer.  The Staff Senate will not meet in August.  Members will go on retreat in September.  Doss-Bunton expressed concern that UL staff could not apply the tuition remission process and attend the MBA program. John Ralston explained that tuition remission could be used but the MBA program is being changed to admit only full-time cohort classes. This change may mean that taking a part-time educational path may not be possible and tuition remission is limited in the number of hours that are covered each semester. The following questions arose: How many students are affected? Should we invite someone to come to address the MBA issue? Should we get basic written information about the MBA programmatic changes for further clarification? Actions will be to get accurate information about the MBA programmatic changes to support any CODRE discussions or actions.

• Student Concerns:   Commissioner Williams reported that the Student Concerns group did not meet last month.  A meeting is planned this month and they will kick off strongly in September.

• Diversity Programming:  Commissioner Wilson requested that the programming committee have additional funding to cover requests from last year that we were unable to meet.

• Meeting Agenda:  Chair Hines-Martin requested that for future meetings if groups have reports, questions (if we have a speaker) or announcements, that they be submitted in writing ahead of time.  We will probably have discussion of bylaws, budget, etc.  Closed sessions will be identified early.  CODRE will plan to always have a report from the Vice Provost of Diversity.  We will plan to hear subcommittee reports.  When we have a speaker, the commission will be notified ahead of time.

Ad Hoc

• Staff Grievance:  Commissioner Johnson reported that the grievance committee did some benchmarking.  They reached a consensus on how to fix what is broken.  He stated that the committee is on target in meeting their deadline.

Changes on website:  Modifications of the CODRE web page would include translation into two languages that are predominate at the university and to better meet the needs of individuals with disabilities.  Georgette will be taking a web publisher workshop (Content Management Essentials) on August 20. 

Announcements

• Law School:  Commissioner Harris reported that the Law School will host two programs regarding Housing Desegregation in Louisville, one will be on October 2.  There will be a second program on November 13.  Also, the first annual University of Louisville Law Journal Symposium will be held on January 18, 2008. The symposium will cover the Meredith v. Jefferson County Board of Education case, which was decided on June 28, 2007.

• UofL NETWORK:  The UofL NETWORK (New Energy To Work Out Racial Kinks) will host Native American Library President, Laureen Ray on September 21 at Masterson’s.  Ms. Ray will talk about children’s books.  The lunch will be $15.  Reservations can be made by telephoning 502/ 852-0274.  The UofL NETWORK luncheons are open to the University community and the Greater Louisville community.

• Celebrating Barbados:  Friday, Aug. 31 – the Alumni Association will host "A Taste of Barbados" at the University Club, 5:30 p.m. Kick off this year's Worldfest with "A Taste of Barbados" at the University Club in association with the Barbados Tourism Authority. Enjoy music, superb island cuisine, travel information and much more for the cost of only $23.95.

• Kentucky Governor’s Conference on Women:  Commissioner Sachs reported on attending the governor’s Conference on Women.  Glenna Fletcher was one of the speaker’s.  Talks included health care and education.  Women in the military were also honored at the event. Commissioner Sachs identified several areas for improvement related to the conference (to better serve the needs of those in attendance).

Meeting adjourned.