Meeting of the FIC 2/20/04 at the IFO office, 165 Western Ave., #8, St. Paul
Meeting called to order at 3:00 p.m.
Members present: Tamara Berg (Winona), Shannon Skarphol Kaml (Metropolitan), Blanca Rivera (Bemidji), Suzanne Black (Southwest), Theresia Fisher (Board Liaison), Mary Bleismer (Mankato), Pat Arseneault (IFO Staff).
I. Administrative Business
IFO Presidential Candidate Nancy Black visited the committee.
Tamara moved, Shannon seconded to approve the minutes of the March and October 3, 2003 meetings; Motion passed.
The status of the FIC budget was discussed. We appear to have adequate remaining funds to cover our meeting at Delegate Assembly and the $3000 FI Grant award.
II. Continuing Business
Salary Equity Study Update
Pat updated the committee on the status of the Salary Review Committee’s work to date.
III. New Business
A. DA Awards
Pat advised that she requested and received approval from the IFO Board to conduct an electronic vote on the committee recommendations for DA Awards for Outstanding Contributions to the IFO and to Women’s Advancement.
The committee received 7 nominations for a faculty member at Winona, Susanne Smith, for Outstanding Contributions to the IFO.
The committee received 16 nominations for a faculty member at Bemidji, Dr. Madalyn Wick, 14 nominations for Outstanding Contributions to Women’s Advancement in the system, and 2 more nominations for Dr. Wick for Outstanding Contributions to the IFO.
The committee without objection supported the 7 nominations for Susanne Smith for the award for Outstanding Contributions to the IFO by a female member, and the 14 nominations for Mandy Wick for Outstanding Contributions to Women’s Advancement.
Pat will notify Jim Pehler and the IFO Board of the committee’s recommendation.
B. 2004 DA Resolutions
The committee discussed proposing new resolutions for creating a GLBT standing issues committee within the IFO; for pushing MnSCU to create GLBT administrative position on each campus; for changing the composition of the IFO board to include the chairs from the FIC, MIC and newly created GLBT issues committee; and for allowing new probationary track faculty a “junior” partial year sabbatical prior to tenure to ensure adequate time for preparation for the tenure process.
C. 2004 DA Meeting / Caucus
The committee will meet Friday morning at DA.
In addition, the committee will host a presidential candidate’s forum during the Friday lunch. The committee will develop a list of written questions regarding issues of equity for the candidates by March 19. The candidates will be asked to respond in writing to a list of written questions for the FIC website.
Pat will send out an email to the group with initial questions, such as what has the candidate done and what do they intend to do on equity issues facing the IFO, such as the loss of Domestic Partner Benefits. Committee members will add to or modify questions by email responses.
D. 2004-06 Feminist Issues Grant Proposal
The committee conducted a brief preliminary review of the grant application, and requested that Pat A. submit three questions to the applicant:
(1) Would the applicant agree to present [repeat] the forum / panel discussion at the 2006 Delegate Assembly, assuming that funding (for travel and accommodations) can be provided by the FIC or IFO?
(2) Would the applicant agree to post the information learned from the project on the FIC website?
(3) Is it correct / verify that the Faculty Learning Community is open for up to 15 women?
Pat to send the questions to the applicant, and to send responses back to the FIC. The committee will conduct its final review of the application at its meeting at DA.
The committee discussed the fact that we received only one response to our request for proposals for the 2004-06 FI Grant, despite the fact that we increased the dollar amount to $3,000. It was suggested that we add to the description of the grant purpose for the “advancement of women in the IFO and Minnesota State Colleges and Universities” the words “in academics.” The committee discussed briefly and intends to revisit the application format and our failure to attract more applicants in another meeting (next year).
Guest Dr. Anne Phibbs, Director GLBT Services, Metropolitan presented a workshop on safe space training.
Meeting adjourned at 7:30 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Patrice Arseneault, acting Recording Secretary