Northern Illinois University

President Commission on the Status of Women

Minutes: January 12, 2005

Present: Stacy Allie, Barbara Burrell, Virginia Cassidy, Joanne Dempsey, Valerie Guyant, Deborah Haliczer, Kathy Hotelling, Sharon Howard, Glenda Jones, Amy Levin, Julie Robertson, Lise Schlosser, Denise Schoenbachler, Josephine Umoren, Randi Wolfe.

Absent: Karen Baker, Sally Conklin, Carol Patch, Jan Rintala, Lorraine Scurti, Leslie Simmons.

Guest: Tim Griffin, Ombudsman

The meeting was called to order at 1:05 p.m. by Chair Barbara Burrell in Lowden Hall 304. Amy Levin made a motion to approve the minutes from the December 8, 2004 meeting and Glenda Jones seconded the motion. The minutes were unanimously approved.

Tim Griffin, Ombudsman, presented a summary of annual office statistics to members in hopes it would clarify his office’s role on campus and possibly identify areas of concern/issues for women on campus that the Commission may want to monitor or pursue in making changes. He informed us that the data was from cases brought to his office and asked that it stay within the group because taken out of context the data could be misunderstood. These were only verbally reported incidents. He was kind enough to share some anecdotal information. The purpose of his office is to informally advise individuals of options while maintaining neutrality. The complete annual report is available on their office web page. His suggestions for the Commission:

  • continue to attempt to diversify in underrepresented areas
  • monitor and strive to improve pay for lowest civil service categories
  • monitor use of women student employees
  • look carefully at women who are targets of disrespectful verbal behavior
  • continue to encourage inclusion of women in faculty and administration

After Dr. Griffin left the room Deborah Haliczer reported that the Supportive Professional Staff Council is looking into supervision issues and making training mandatory. Sharon Howard also reported that a new task force has been formed in the Division of Student Affairs, “Commuter and Non-traditional Student Task Force”. Focus groups will be a part of the effort in learning the needs of this population. It was suggested that returning mid-career males be included in the focus groups.

Old Business

Affirmative Action Diversity Resources Report (AADR): The complaint form is being revised. Over 900 employees attended non-discrimination training. There will be an on-line component to the training in the future.

Campus Climate and Quality of Life : No report.

Personal and Professional Development : Networking luncheons are being planned for February and April. Possible speakers include: Wendy Witt, Jenny Hoobler, Adele Morrison, Carla Goar.

Research : Dan House has given the committee the requested data on women and they are in the process of putting it in an excel data base. Data should be available to share with members at the next meeting.

Awards committee : There have been 124 nominations of 113 individuals for the Outstanding Women Student Awards this year. The Martha Cooper Journalism Award deadline will be March 21 st. The Wilma Stricklin Award deadline will be March 14 th.

The Salary Equity Task Force : No report.

New Business

AAUW Leadership Conference : No other information is available on this issue. Members decided with our limited available funding unless additional funding is offered from other sources we shouldn’t pursue this any further.

The Women’s Leadership Workshop: Committee has not met.

Announcements

  • The Mothers Memorial Scholarship applications will be sent within the next two weeks. It is small at this time, about $300 for an undergraduate and $300 for a graduate student. It is hoped that this amount will increase as contributions increase.
  • Effective February 2005 “University Resources for Women” has a new name “Women’s Resource Center ”.
  • There will be three groups this Spring sponsored by the Women’s Resource Center : Women in Transition; Career Planning for Women; Bullies Don’t Abuse Only on Playgrounds.
  • Colette Morrow, immediate past president of the National Women’s Studies Association, Visiting Associate Professor in the English and Philosophy Department of Purdue Calumet, will present a gender leadership course this semester as a Women’s Studies special topics course.

Adjournment

A motion to adjourn the meeting was made by Deborah Haliczer and seconded by Amy Levin. The motion was approved unanimously. Barbara Burrell adjourned the meeting at 2:50 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Betty Baugh