DIVERSITY COMMITTEE NEVADA SYSTEM OF HIGHER EDUCATION

Transcription

1 Minutes are intended to note (a) the date, time and place of the meeting; (b) those members of the public body who were present and those who were absent; and (c) the substance of all matters proposed, discussed and/or action was taken on. Minutes are not intended to be a verbatim report of a meeting. An audiotape recording of the meeting is available for inspection by any member of the public interested in a verbatim report of the meeting. These minutes are not final until approved by the Board of Regents at the November 2012 meeting. BOARD OF REGENTS and its CULTURAL DIVERSITY COMMITTEE NEVADA SYSTEM OF HIGHER EDUCATION Sierra Building, Elizabeth Sturm Library Truckee Meadows Community College 7000 Dandini Boulevard, Reno Friday, September 7, 2012 Video Conference Connection to: System Administration, Las Vegas 5550 W. Flamingo Road, Suite C1, Conference Room and Great Basin College, Elko 1500 College Parkway, Berg Hall Conference Room Members Present: Members Absent: Other Regents Present: Others Present: Mr. Cedric Crear, Chair Dr. Andrea Anderson Dr. Jack Lund Schofield Mr. Rick Trachok Mr. Robert J. Blakely Dr. Jason Geddes Mr. Daniel J. Klaich, Chancellor Ms. Crystal Abba, Vice Chancellor, Academic & Student Affairs Ms. Brook Nielsen, Vice Chancellor, Legal Affairs Mr. Vic Redding, Vice Chancellor, Finance & Administration Ms. Renee Yackira, Vice Chancellor, Administration & Operations Dr. Steven Zink, Vice Chancellor, Information Technology Ms. Allison Combs, Asst. Vice Chancellor, Acad. & Student Affairs Dr. Magdalena Martinez, Asst. Vice Chancellor, Acad. & Student Affairs Ms. Constance Brooks, Interim Director of Government Relations Ms. Renee Davis, Director of Student Affairs Ms. Linda Heiss, Director of Institutional Research & Data Partnerships Dr. Stephen G. Wells, President, DRI Dr. Mark A. Curtis, President, GBC Mr. Bart J. Patterson, President, NSC Dr. Maria C. Sheehan, President, TMCC Dr. Neal J. Smatresk, President, UNLV Dr. Carol A. Lucey, President, WNC (CULTURAL DIVERSITY COMMITTEE 11/30/12) Ref. CD-2, Page 1 of 6

2 Cultural Diversity Committee Minutes Page 2 Faculty senate chairs in attendance were Dr. Charles Milne, CSN; Ms. Dani Chandler, NSHE System Administration; and Mr. Gil Martin, WNC. Student body presidents in attendance were Mr. Travis Brown, CSN; Mr. Alex Porter, GBC; Mr. Navgeet Zed, TMCC; Ms. Sara Farr (vice president), UNLV; and Mr. Curtis Blackwell, WNC. For others present, please see the attendance roster on file in the Board office. Chair Cedric Crear called the meeting to order at 8:00 a.m. with all members present except Regents Anderson, Blakely and Schofield. 1. Public Comment None. 2. Information Only-Black Girls Code (Agenda Item #3) Black Girls Code is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization whose mission is to empower girls of color to make a lasting contribution to society through the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields. Information was presented on the various programs of the organization being conducted in the greater Las Vegas area (Ref. CD-3 on file in the Board office). Chair Crear observed STEM education is vitally important to the future of the United States, and yet there is a shortage of students in Nevada and across the country studying in the STEM fields. Regent Schofield entered the meeting. Ms. Lauren Burke Bennett, Organizer, Black Girls Code, reported that Black Girls Code was founded by Kimberly Bryant in San Francisco. Last summer, the organization expanded into other areas with a multi-city launch day. Regent Anderson entered the meeting. Ms. Bennett helped to bring Black Girls Code to Las Vegas and has since organized several successful programs including teaching girls how to build their own Web page. Currently, she is working with Ms. Bryant to develop after school programs that will get students involved in the STEM areas. Dr. Stephen G. Wells, President, DRI, commented on the potential for collaboration between the Gathering Genius STEM Coalition and Black Girls Code. He indicated Gathering Genius Executive Director Beth Wells will reach out to Ms. Bennett to discuss opportunities for collaboration. 3. Approved-Minutes (Agenda Item #2) The Committee recommended approval of the minutes from the June 1, 2012, meeting (Ref. CD-2 on file in the Board office). (CULTURAL DIVERSITY COMMITTEE 11/30/12) Ref. CD-2, Page 2 of 6

3 Cultural Diversity Committee Minutes Page 3 3. Approved-Minutes (Agenda Item #2) (continued) Regent Trachok moved approval of the minutes from the June 1, 2012, meeting. Regent Anderson seconded. Motion carried. Regent Blakely was absent. 4. Information Only-Office of Equity and Inclusion, TMCC Dr. Barbara Wright- Sanders, Office of Equity and Inclusion, TMCC, presented information on the institution s new Office of Equity and Inclusion, including its role in promoting student diversity. Dr. Wright-Sanders gave a PowerPoint presentation on the Office of Equity and Inclusion at TMCC (Ref. CD-4 on file in the Board office). The presentation included information on the philosophy, purpose, intent and operation, partners and success indicators of the Office of Equity and Inclusion. In response to a question from Chancellor Klaich, Dr. Wright-Sanders stated working committees have been established for each of the eight success indicators. Each group has a draft working plan with goals, objectives and timelines, and progress will be evaluated on a regular basis. Dr. Maria C. Sheehan, President, TMCC, indicated one of the working groups will be disaggregating data to determine where TMCC s student population does not match with the demographics of the community. The disaggregated data will also be used to determine the success rate for each population so that resources can be allocated appropriately. Chair Crear expressed his belief the organic culture TMCC is working to create on its campus will bring greater success to the college. 5. Information Only-Hispanic Serving Institution Status Assistant Vice Chancellor Magdalena Martinez gave a PowerPoint presentation on the status of certain NSHE institutions in achieving status as a designated Hispanic Serving Institution (Ref. CD-5 on file in the Board office). The presentation included an overview of Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs), information on U.S. Department of Education recognized MSIs, student characteristics at MSIs, an overview of Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs), data on Hispanics in higher education and Hispanics in Nevada, emerging HSIs in Nevada, designation of Title III and Title IV status and what NSHE institutions are doing to prepare for HSI status. Chair Crear requested the presentation be shared with the Las Vegas Latin Chamber of Commerce Executive Committee, as it provides a good snapshot of where the NSHE is in its efforts to obtain HSI designation. (CULTURAL DIVERSITY COMMITTEE 11/30/12) Ref. CD-2, Page 3 of 6

4 Cultural Diversity Committee Minutes Page 4 5. Information Only-Hispanic Serving Institution Status (continued) Chair Crear asked that the Committee receive periodic status updates on this issue. Assistant Vice Chancellor Martinez noted it is typical for institutions to plan two years ahead before reaching the required 25% Hispanic student enrollment so they have the infrastructure and strategic plan in place to successfully apply and implement an HSI grant. Chancellor Klaich indicated a number of NSHE presidents have undertaken specific efforts at their institutions. Assistant Vice Chancellor Martinez is monitoring those efforts and serves as a resource for the institutions. President Sheehan noted the grant process has become increasingly competitive. It is even harder for community colleges because they have to compete against an entire realm of institutions that have the designation. In response to a question from Chair Crear, Assistant Vice Chancellor Martinez indicated Chancellor Klaich has charged her with helping the institutions build capacity. She has circulated a proposed timeline and will facilitate coordination between the U.S. Department of Education and the emerging HSIs. Regent Geddes recommended the NSHE reach out to the local school districts and the Nevada Board of Education to see what programs they have implemented to increase student success. President Sheehan indicated the Regents Scholar program at UNR reaches down to the sixth grade level and she believes that is where much of the effort should be concentrated. She noted the new superintendent of the Washoe County School District is very concerned about doing a better job at a younger age, and the institutions will look for opportunities to collaborate programmatically with the school district. 6. Approved-Procedures & Guidelines Manual Revision, Tier II Supplier Diversity Spending The Committee recommended approval of a revision to Board policy concerning bid evaluations for prime contractors (Chapter 5, Section 2). Ms. Brooke Nielsen, Vice Chancellor for Legal Affairs, indicated that, in accordance with the Committee s directive to staff at the June 1, 2012, meeting, the proposed policy revision requires that bid documents and resulting contracts include a list of Tier II businesses and suppliers, including any minority-owned, women-owned and other small disadvantaged business enterprises that will be given the opportunity to bid as subcontractors (Ref. CD-6 on file in the Board office). (CULTURAL DIVERSITY COMMITTEE 11/30/12) Ref. CD-2, Page 4 of 6

5 Cultural Diversity Committee Minutes Page 5 6. Approved-Procedures & Guidelines Manual Revision, Tier II Supplier Diversity Spending (continued) Regent Trachok moved approval of the proposed policy revision. Regent Anderson seconded. Regent Trachok confirmed the proposed policy will require a list of the subcontractors and suppliers that are included in the prime contractor s bid and, in addition, a list of subcontractors or suppliers that will be given the opportunity to bid on the project in the future. Motion carried. Regent Blakely was absent. 7. Information Only-Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Council President Maria C. Sheehan, TMCC, and Dr. Reginald Stewart, UNR, co-chairs of the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Council, reported on the recent work of the Council and initiatives the group is pursuing. President Sheehan indicated that while it is a priority for the Presidents to attend meetings of the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Council (EDIC), the logistics have been difficult. Therefore, rather than trying to meet monthly, the Presidents have decided to allow work groups to meet monthly, and then the EDIC will meet as a whole the day before each Board of Regents meeting. President Sheehan reported the EDIC has developed a pilot program for sharing application materials that will be implemented at UNR and TMCC. A work group will meet on a monthly basis and report back to the EDIC. In addition, the EDIC is looking at the possibility of having a Nevada job fair with the goal of increasing the part-time applicant pool. Chair Crear stressed the importance of making sure there are jobs available before organizing a job fair. He noted the institutions are just beginning to approach the point where they can start hiring again. President Sheehan indicated they will lead with part-time jobs, because the institutions are always looking for part-time faculty. Dr. Stewart stated he intends to explore ways in which UNR can partner with Black Girls Code and will report back to the Committee at a future meeting. Dr. Stewart provided information on the upcoming Northern Nevada Diversity Summit to be held on October 11, 2012, at UNR. The summit will focus on the educational pipeline for underrepresented students and will feature keynote speaker Dr. Bill Tierney from the University of Southern California. Participants will then meet in roundtables to identify challenges and develop an action plan. (CULTURAL DIVERSITY COMMITTEE 11/30/12) Ref. CD-2, Page 5 of 6

6 Cultural Diversity Committee Minutes Page 6 7. Information Only-Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Council (continued) In response to a question from Chancellor Klaich, Dr. Stewart indicated the morning session will include information on how far the NSHE has come in terms of student success. Ms. Constance Brooks, Director of Government Affairs and Diversity Initiatives, CSN, and Interim Director of Government Relations, NSHE, provided information on the upcoming Southern Nevada Diversity Summit to be held on October 5, 2012, at CSN. The goal of the summit is to increase transparency and strengthen relationships in the community. The morning session will focus on diversity and success in higher education, community responsibility and current initiatives. In the afternoon, Dr. Wendell Hall, Deputy Director of the Institute of Higher Education Policy, will discuss Minority Serving Institutions and completion goals for underrepresented students. The focus will then shift to economic development as representatives from the various chambers of commerce participate in a panel discussion. The discussion will examine the role of diversity as the sectors of economic development continue to grow and how that nexus then extends to higher education. Chair Crear asked the presidents to extend an invitation to the summit to their database contacts. 8. New Business Chair Crear requested an update on the supplier diversity initiative and Tier II spending policy be presented at a future meeting. 9. Public Comment None. The meeting adjourned at 9:21 a.m. Prepared by: Submitted for approval by: Keri D. Nikolajewski Special Assistant and Coordinator to the Board of Regents R. Scott Young Deputy Chief of Staff to the Board of Regents (CULTURAL DIVERSITY COMMITTEE 11/30/12) Ref. CD-2, Page 6 of 6