|
Core Committee for the Support of Underrepresented
Ethnic Groups
August 8, 2007
Meeting Highlights
Members present: S. Chachere, J. Glenn, J. Gonzalez, R. Lewis, F.
Paniagua, A. Porter, R. Reyes, R. Saavedra, K. Shingleton and M.
Williams.
1. Approval of the Minutes
Minutes of July 11, 2007 were approved via email.
2. Old Business
a) Gap Funding Statement – Jose Gonzalez
Dr. Gonzalez, Ray Lewis, and Robinlyn Sayers met with Dr. Barbara
Thompson regarding the Gap Funding Statement, who volunteered to take
the statement to the Chairs group. Dr. Thompson reported the following
to Dr. Gonzalez in an August 7 email:
“There was support for the concept. Several of the Chairs said this
should be considered a “loan” and be paid back to the fund when the
department was able to do so which would keep the amount of $250K
consistently available year after year. Otherwise, just general
agreement with the concept.”
b) Core Committee Action Plan Workgroup – S. Peloquin
Dr. Peloquin was unable to attend the meeting because she had been
assigned jury duty. The committee was provided with the latest Resource
document. Dr. Peloquin wanted the group’s okay to add the Gay/Straight
Alliance and the S.A.F.E. Project. The committee didn’t have a problem
with these groups being added.
c) Mission Statement – Dr. Gonzalez
The committee has been debating between several versions of an
addition to UTMB’s current Mission statement that addresses Diversity,
one of UTMB’s Core Values that is missing from the institution’s current
mission statement. After discussion and vote, the committee decided to
submit the following mission statement to Dr. Watson, Chief Academic
Officer and SACS liaison:
“To seek and retain students, faculty and staff whose diversity of
origins and beliefs bring significant and immeasurable value to the
institution.”
3. New Business
a) Dr. Cary Cooper, Dean, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences
Dr. Gonzalez introduced Dr. Cary Cooper, Dean of the Graduate School
of Biomedical Sciences since 1996 and 25 years of service to UTMB,
including Chairman of the Department of Pharmacology. Dr. Cooper
informed the committee that when he was Chair of Pharmacology, 50% of
the faculty were women.
Dr. Cooper informed the committee that as Dean of the GSBS, he does
not hire, promote or terminate faculty. Graduate faculty are nominated
and elected from the other three schools. The GSBS provides an
environment for basic science faculty to flourish and which is very
family oriented. Dr. Cooper informed the committee that he is working to
increase diversity in graduate school students.
The national trends are troubling – in 2003, out of 330,000
enrollees, only 24,000 were African-American, 1,400 Native American, and
16,000 were Hispanic. Dr. Cooper also informed the committee that in
2005, in science and engineering only, 16,000 Ph.D.’s were awarded –
only 67 were Native American, 700 were African American and 800 were
Hispanic. In addition, 24-25% of students are international students.
Dr. Cooper informed the committee that 55% of graduate students are
women. These stats are pretty much the same nationally. Graduate
students are expected to publish; these students also produce money for
the institution – e.g. National Institutes of Health money, and partner
with other Texas schools, building both personal and professional
relationships.
b) Scheduling Deans/Chairs to meet with Committee Update – Dr.
Gonzalez
Dr. Gonzalez announced that Dr. Callender would be joining the
committee at the September 12 meeting. He was originally scheduled to
present at the August 8 meeting but he had a conflict and Dr. Cooper
graciously changed his schedule.
c) Council/Core Committees Collaboration Update – Dr. Gonzalez
Because of Dr. Cooper’s presentation, this update was tabled until
the next meeting.
4. Announcement by members; agenda items for next meeting; date for
next meeting
The committee’s next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, September
12, 2007.
Meeting adjourned at 1:00 p.m.
Recorder: Sheryl Lashway, Office of the President
|
