Minutes: April 11, 2007
Present: Monique Bernoudy, Barbara Burrell, Virginia Cassidy, Kay Chapman, Deborah Haliczer, Celeste Latham, Amy Levin, Judith Lukaszuk, Doreen Mace, Shirley Mashare, Regina Rahn, Lesley Rigg, Julie Robertson, Rhonda Robinson, Lise Schlosser, Marianne Tomlinson, Josephine Umoren.
Absent: Dee Abrahamson, Karen Baker, Glenda Jones, Lisa Kay, Adriana Moreno Nevarez, Jan Rintala (leave), Denise Schoenbachler, Debbie Smith-Shank, Lorraine Scurti, Taalia Whitehead.
The meeting was called to order at 1:05 p.m. by Chair, Josephine Umoren in Altgeld Hall 203. Lesley Rigg made a motion to approve the minutes from the March 7, 2007 meeting. Shirley Mashare seconded the motion. The minutes were approved unanimously. Introductions were made.
Old Business:
Affirmative Action Diversity Resources Report: Final revisions are being made on diversity statements. The Advisory Committee will meet April 17th.
Campus Climate and Quality of Life: Amy Levin was not available but had referred information on ACE and Alfred P. Sloan Foundation grant for the PCSW to review ( http://www.acenet.edu/Content/NavigationMenu/ProgramsServices/CEL/SloanAwards/sloanAwards4.htm). Members decided that this material was informational only and NIU was not eligible, but we should keep the project on our radar as we may want to review the results in the future. It is unlikely more benefits will be offered because of funding. Our best efforts would be to inform individuals/administrators of current policy and how to work with benefits that are currently in place. Creating a guide for explaining FMLA flexibility for chairs would be a good start. The General Survey will be created and funding has to be committed by May 15th.
Personal Professional Development: Julie Robertson announced that Judith Lukaszuk did a great job at the March 30th Networking Luncheon on women’s health and nutrition. We are hoping to be able to schedule the chandelier room in advance so we can have three luncheons per semester next year.
Research: Lesley Rigg reports that the committee has not met. They would like the PCSW members to review the recommendations made in the resent Report on the Status of Women, Gender Equity sent to President Peters March 7, 2007 and make suggestions for what direction the committee should move in next.
Awards and Recognition: Betty Baugh reported 50 Outstanding Women Students will be receiving awards April 15th this year. Sharon Howard will be reading the short bios on each of these achievers. President Peters will be presenting these awards along with two new awards, Women Who Make a Difference (Judy Lynn Skorek) and Outstanding Mentor Award (Amy K. Levin). The Wilma D. Stricklin Award will not be presented this year but we are delighted to introduce these two new awards. The Martha Cooper Award will be presented at the Journalism Banquet April 27th to Kathleen M. Trusk.
New Business:
- The new director of the Women’s Resource Center, Jill Dunlap, will begin May 1st. The search for a new assistant director is in process.
- Virginia Cassidy and Deborah Haliczer agreed to comprise the PCSW membership nomination committee. They will bring names to the May meeting for next years officers.
- An extra meeting will be held on May 17th, Noon, at Yen Cheng, to discuss the Report on the Status of Women, Gender Equity Report, submitted to President Peters, March 7, 2007.
Announcements
- Congratulations to both Judy Lukaszuk and Julie Robertson, two of our PCSW members who recently received an Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching Award.
- Benefits Choice Fair will be held, May 3rd.
- Strategic Planning Report will have an article in Northern Today April 16th; April 27th the Task Force will meet to discuss it; May 3rd -4th the final report will come up for vote.
Adjournment
Barbara Burrell made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Kay Chapman seconded the motion. Motion was approved unanimously. Josephine Umoren adjourned the meeting at 2:10 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Betty Baugh