University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Chancellor's Committee on the Status of Women

Meeting Minutes

March 30, 2004

I. Announcements

A. Our Secretary is not available today to take notes.  Carol Bresnahan volunteered to take notes this
     meeting.

B. Please mark your calendars for our next and final meeting date:  Tuesday, April 27, 2004,
    3:00-5:00 pm @ 500 Swanlund Administration Building.

C. Kathryn Anthony received a letter from Joanna Kepler regarding our participation in a panel.  After
    reading the letter aloud, the Committee declined to participate in the panel.

II. Old Business

A. Approval of March 30, 2004, Minutes with revisions.

B. Senate Equal Opportunity Committee - update by Kathryn Anthony in place of CCSW
    Representative Linda Beale

1. A draft of the Flexible Tenure Survey was e-mailed by Linda Beale who seeks comments
    from the Committee. The survey will by introduced by a letter co-signed by
    Kathryn Anthony, as well as Roger Shanks, Chair of the Senate Equal Opportunity
    Committee.

C. Portraiture on Campus follow-up

1. Robin Kaler is following up with the letter to deans, directors, and department heads
    regarding candidates for portraits.  CCSW believes that the letter has not been sent out
    yet, but hopefully will be out by the end of the week.

2. Brown University's President, Ruth Simmons, who was motivated in part by portraits in
    her own office, wishes to start a long-term examination of Brown's own history with
    respect to the slave trade.

D. Rape Awareness and Prevention Committee update - Undergraduate Student Representative
    Annice Fisher

1. In response to questions raised, Annice Fisher explained how yearly campus safety
    reports give statistics and facts on UIUC's rape and sexual assault occurrences.  Maps
    are available to the public documenting the exact locations of all such crimes.

III. New Business

A. Open discussion and updates on Commitment to Action Chart

1. Carol Bresnahan has drafted a document on faculty mentoring and will e-mail it to
    CCSW in advance of the April meeting.

2. Kathleen Pecknold reported on Faculty Excellence, a program that involves hiring on
    prominent faculty.  Due to budget constraints, it has been put on hold, though she hopes
    that it will be reinstated next year.  Most hired, are however, white males.  The Provost     has expressed concern over the number of males hired versus females, and realizes that
    UIUC must proactively recruit diversely through this program.

3. Kathleen Pecknold also reported on TOPS, a program designed to create new
    positions at UIUC and hire affirmatively, largely African Americans and Latino/a faculty. 
    The number of TOPS hires who have remained at UIUC is not known.  Next year, a
    follow up is expected to see how TOPS' Class of 1999 (year hired) has fared regarding
    their tenure.  Kathleen Pecknold adds that occasionally Caucasian females qualify for
    recruitment through this program greatly diluting its efforts.  Instead, she suggests that the
    Faculty Excellence program take over these efforts fully as they aggressively recruit
    women to UIUC.

a. Kathryn Anthony asked Kathleen Pecknold to look into numbers of
    female recruitment attempts made by Faculty Excellence and to report at
    next meeting.

4. Kathleen Pecknold reported on the availability of childcare on campus to staff.  A
    University subsidized In-Home Sick Child Care program will be started in the fall.  She
    also added that there is talk of building a childcare facility near the Research Park. An
    RFP will be issues following a needs assessment.  Planning funding has been identified, as
    the federal government will pick up 80% of the project costs on the condition that the
    facility effectively promotes the mass transit system.

5. Kathryn Anthony reported that she has spoken with Jack Dempsey, and he says that
    gender-friendly podiums can be designed and built on campus in the Mill Shop.  There
    are concerns on how to identify places on campus such podiums should be placed.

a. Kathleen Pecknold believes that podiums are brought to venues upon
    request, such as the Illini Union, Levis Center, Lincoln Hall, Foellinger
    Auditorium, Krannert Center, and Beckman Institute.

6. Members discussed the cover letter to the Flexible Tenure Survey, and felt that it needed
    to be briefer.  Also, the option "decline to answer" should be removed. 
    Kathryn Anthony volunteered to submit CCSW's comments discussed at meeting to
    Linda Beale.

a. CCSW agrees that the letter should go out co-signed by both
    Kathryn Anthony and Roger Shanks, so as both CCSW and the Senate
    are represented.

b. Cheryl Bullock suggested that there be a pilot test of 25 respondents,
    before posting survey questionnaire on the web.  She also volunteered to
    serve on Committee as an expert on statistics.

c. Kathryn Anthony notes that a change in tenure structures must go through
   Senate.

7. Lynda Cabrales suggested that CCSW formally recognize Chancellor Cantor's support
    of women's issues at UIUC.  Annice Fisher and Lynda Cabrales will select a gift and
    Kathryn Anthony will write a letter, both to be given on behalf of the Committee.

8. Members were asked to consider nominations for new or replacement CCSW members
    for next term.  Jacque Kahn volunteered to nominate students and possible candidates
    for the paid secretary position.

a. Nominations include:

1) Iryce Barton of the Department of English
2) Maggie Austin, College of Engineering

9. Jacque Kahn noted that 2004 will be the Gender and Women's Studies Program's 25^th
    anniversary.  She seeks suggestion for Illinois females to invite, from any field, to campus
    provided they are connected with Illinois in some way.  Invitees may be asked to speak
    or participate in various events, as well as be role models for students.