COSW

Minutes 10-26-07

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Present: Linda K. Bledsoe, Brian Buford, Valerie Casey, Julia Dietrich, Susan Duncan, Mona Francis, Bob Goldstein, Dawn Heinecken, M. Cynthia Logsdon, Vicki Hines-Martin, Harvey Johnson, Monica Jones, Sharon LaRue,  Anita Moorman, Bobby Plienis, Prafula Sheth and Georgette Moore (Guests:  Ken Brown, Wayne Hall, Bradley Pearson)

Absent: Michel Atlas, Dwight Dozier, Leslye Erickson, Shirley Hardy, Ann Larson, Victoria Molfese, Kathy Pendleton, Margaret Pentecost, Edna Ross, Holly Sheilley, Jennifer Taylor, Mary Karen Powers, Mordean Taylor-Archer and Nancy Theriot

Minutes:  Chair Larue opened the meeting and asked for a motion regarding the minutes from the September meeting.  Dawn Heinecken moved to approve the minutes.  The motion was seconded and approved after vote.

The Chair asked that in the future all reports and announcements be sent to Georgette for early distribution and that the reports be read prior to the meetings being convened.  Only additions will be discussed at future meetings.  Today committee chairs will give a brief update on their committee activities.

Campus Climate:  Linda updated the commission on the following issues:

• Salaries for DPS:  Lack of raise in pay scale for University police; UofL police still do not receive hazardous duty pay.

• Continued support of the PEACC Program:  current practices regarding notification within the University after a rape or other sexual assault has been reported; numerous concerns about how much detail was being shared (and with whom) regarding victims in these situations.
• Sexual Harassment Training being made mandatory:  Clarification need regarding whether it is required that new hires complete this training within 30 days.  Both senates voted not to make it mandatory.

Communications:  Bobby informed the Commission that this group will concentrate on three goals.

• Creation of effective communication strategies that will create knowledge and awareness for COSW members, and to the University community. 
• 2.) Foster relationships/partnerships and a sense of community for COSW members and the University Community.
• In collaboration with the Executive Committee, coordinate official business functions for COSW.

Integration of Work and Families:  Susan reported the following:

• Groundbreaking for Child Care Center--$1 million donated by Lewis “Sonny” Bass.

• IWF will focus on clarification regarding leave policies and the issues surrounding them.  Harvey Johnson will talk to the group during the breakout session this afternoon to address all the various policies.  This group thought the best thing to focus on this year was leave policies.  Our committee is going to start to email ideas around on what needs to be asked or clarified about the various policies and the issues surrounding them. 

Women and Global Issues:  Dawn reminded the Commission on the Celebration of Research event to take place on October 25 in Chao auditorium.

• Annual International Day Opposing Violence Against Women on Tuesday, 11/06/07 at 2:30 pm, also in Chao Auditorium.  There will be panel discussion.  Featured speakers are Lucinda Marshall, Gabriela Alcade and Karina Barillas.
• Lilialyce Akers Travel/Research Award (for W&GI).  Undergraduate and graduate students apply for awards of up to $500 to facilitate the study of issues affecting women in the global south (or newly democratizing nations).  The deadline to apply is Friday, February 15, 2008 by 4:00 pm.
• International Women Day will be observed on 3-19-08.  Faculty will be presented with awards

Chair’s Update:  Chair LaRue and Vice Chair Hanley will meet with the President on November 29 at 9 a.m.  The Executive Committee has also discussed presenting an annual report.  Also:

• Sharon and Susan’s meeting with UK’s Commission on Women had to be rescheduled.
• Discussed duplicating the 1994 Task Force with Bob Goldstein.  What information do we now find germane?  What does the process entail?  Sharon and Susan will meet with Linda Shapiro.  Also contacted Linda Shapiro regarding strategic planning implementation.  Bill Pierce is the contact in the Provost office.  Susan will follow up on this.
• Sharon and Susan will ask the President to assign Bob Goldstein to update the data and then ask him to look at our next steps.
• Sharon attended the Oct. 26 groundbreaking ceremony for the Louisville Scholar House (Child Development Center), a partnership among Project Women, UofL and the Kentucky Housing Corp.
• COSW Executive Board Retreat on October 29.  The Board will review COSW goals and compare them with the President’s goals.

CODRE Update:  CODRE Chair Vicki Hines-Martin reported that CODRE commissioners had questions regarding changes in the structure of the College of Business’ MBA program.  CODRE invited the Dean of the College of Business to attend their October 12 meeting.  Associate Dean Audrey Kline attended the meeting with, Nat Irving and Kevin Kane.  Together they addressed the following concerns:

1.       Many of the UL staff who are taking classes in the MBA program are doing so on a part- time basis (to address their need for full-time employment). How do the program changes address the needs of those students (nontraditional students)?

2.       There are students who are enrolled in other disciplines who are also interested in classes in the MBA program (e.g., law, medicine, etc.) what will be the process for addressing those student needs?

3.       UL staff (and others) has the benefit of tuition remission and that benefit covers 6 credit hours. It is our understanding that the development of the MBA program is based on cohort admission and progression in full-time study. What were the considerations for the economic gap that may be encountered by UL members to whom this may apply? Are there plans to address this potential gap?

PEACC Update:  Sharon LaRue reported that on Monday, Oct. 22, and Tuesday, Oct. 23, National Depression Screening Day, students could participate in a free and confidential mental health screening 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

• Expression Art Exhibit on November 5 through November 9 in Ekstrom. 
• Faces of PEACC Mosaic:
• International Women’s Night:  International Women's Night will be Saturday, Nov. 10, at 6 p.m. at the International Center on the Belknap Campus. A celebration of women from all walks of life, International Women's Night is a time to come together with other women to share a poem, story, or dance that has been significant to your life or culture. Please feel free to bring a friend! This event is hosted by the PEACC Program.
• Kentucky Domestic Violence Association:  Sharon will attend the 9^th Ending KDVA conference in Lexington on December 4-6, 2007

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Women’s Center Update:  Valerie Casey reported that the UofL Women’s Center announced Mary Craik as the winner of the Mary K. Bonsteel Tachau Gender Equity Award.  Dr. Craik was nominated by President Ramsey.  The award will be presented at the Elizabeth Cady Stanton Luncheon, Thursday Nov. 8 at 11:30 a.m. at the University Club. Also presented will be the recipients of the M. Celeste Nichols Travel Awards. Cost of the luncheon is $25/person. For reservations or to sponsor a student, contact the Women’s Center at 852-8976 or e-mail vmcase01@louisville.edu (Submitted By: Valerie Casey, Women's Center)

• Save the day (February 16, 2008).  Feb. 16th is the Kentucky Women's Book Festival at the Ekstrom Library.  Kim Edwards, UK Faculty, is the lunch time speaker that day.

• A student chapter of Women 4 Women starting at the University of Louisville.

• FSHR:  The FSHR will meet on November 13 at 4 pm to discuss pending policies for qualifying adult (changed from domestic partner).  Some policies have been approved by HRAC but have not been implemented by the Provost or President.  It should be noted here that domestic partners cannot use tuition remission.

• LGBT Program Manager:  An interview has been scheduled for next week.  It is hoped that by the end of November (or early December) that someone will be in place.  Currently commonGround does not have a place to congregate.  Note:  All student groups lost space in the Houchens.

• Lecture Series:  Julia Dietrich will lecture on The Mystical Writings of Julian of Norwich on Wednesday, October 31 at 3 pm in Chao Auditorium.  This is the final lecture in the 2007 series.

• Interrupted Life: Incarcerated Mothers in the United States.  A traveling public art exhibit by curator, Ricki Solinger.  The art exhibit continues through November 2.

• Staff Senate:  The Staff Senate representative reported that they are working on reorganization.

• They will work on goals/objectives.  Currently reviewing tuition remission changes (issues expanding on explanation of children of employees—time out at age 25; if you fail a course (you now have to pay for the course), clarification—(if you are divorces but do not claim the child, s/he cannot get your tuition remission.

Meeting adjourned for breakout sessions.