Faculty Assembly Executive Council | Minutes | 10/3/18

FAEC Minutes 10/3/2018

Faculty Assembly Executive Council [FAEC] Meeting Minutes

Date: Wednesday, Oct  3, 2018 | Location: A218  | Time: 10:00 am to 12:00 pm

Attendees: Kathryn Zeno, Tae Kwak, Donna Flynn, Sam Mustafa, Kathy Zeno, Renata Gangemi, Christina Connor, Hugh Sheehy, Eva Ogens, Cristina Perez

Secretary: Nakia Matthias

Guests: Dr. Naseem Choudhury

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1.  FAEC Minutes Approved

2.  RCNJ and Diversity

The FAEC is in support of making progress on diversity issues at RCNJ.  

Professor Naseem Choudhury explained that the need for the Diversity Action Committee (DAC) was realized by members of the RCNJ community who established the committee as a response to the lack of diversity on campus. She outlined DAC’s structure and operations; its role and achievements on campus; and discussed expanding on the objectives and goal of the now dissolved committee. She also mentioned that DAC’ effectiveness at promoting diversity relied on the discretion of the RCNJ president to execute DAC’s recommendations.

Naseem directed the FAEC’s attention to the fact that the DAC’s diversity and inclusion goal differs from the conceptualization of diversity in RCNJ Strategic Plan Goal 4 ‘CULTIVATE AND SUPPORT DIVERSITY AND INCLUSIVENESS.  

Goal 4: Cultivate and Support Diversity and Inclusiveness

Diversity encourages the examination of perspectives and values, enriches the learning experience, and prepares people to be more effective members of their community. The College thus seeks to create an inclusive and supportive environment characterized by high rates of retention and continuation of a diverse student population; providing curricula and programming that encompass diversity in all its forms; and attracting, developing and retaining faculty and staff who reflect and are committed to diversity and inclusiveness. https://www.ramapo.edu/president/wp-content/uploads/sites/41/2013/03/Strategic-Plan-2014-2018-Final.pdf

FAEC supports the creation of an RCNJ diversity plan to ensure ongoing work toward achieving Goal 4 in RCNJ’s strategic plan. Additionally, FAEC sees a need to harmonize campus diversity goals among the entities charged with realizing this end.

Furthermore, FAEC suggests  that RCNJ ‘s campus population should proportionately reflect the diversity seen in the state of New Jersey, as much as possible.

3.  Role of the Chief Diversity Officer

FAEC raised concerns around the need to better understand the structure of the office of the Chief Diversity Officer. FAEC cited a conflict of interest in Nicole Morgan Agard’s role as Chief Diversity Officer, her duties as head of EDIC Equity Diversity Inclusion and Compliance, as well as her overall Employee Relations function.  It is FAEC’s position that diversity work includes more than application of the law to ensure compliance with federal guidelines

The lack of separation in the roles that Nicole Morgan Agard maintains is cause for concern in the handling and confidentiality of employee grievances.

4.  RCNJ Plan for Diversity

FAEC contends that there is a need for a clear structure in place from the president’s office to support diversity at RCNJ including a diversity plan in service of the campus community. This is especially crucial to recruitment, hiring, and retention.  

FAEC asserts that the lack of a diversity plan is rare as other public colleges and universities have such plans in place to guide their diversity goals and objectives.

FAEC also sees a need for ongoing, rather than once-off events, activities, and programs to dedicated to diversity training among faculty, staff, administrators, and students.  

FAEC realizes the need for an RCNJ concerted diversity plan originating from the top down to address the diverse existential needs and concerns of the campus community in addition to demographic and intellectual diversity.  This is essential to strengthening an accepting and inclusive culture at RCNJ.

5.  Bias Reporting on Campus

FAEC stated a need for a clear and responsive campus bias reporting system, as there is a  lack of communication and trust surrounding the reporting of bias driven offenses.

Categories: FAEC MEETING MINUTES 2018