Council for Diversity and Inclusivity - Meeting November 5, 2015 at 2:00 p.m.

C-11.1081

AGENDA

Attendance:

James Braswell, Cristina Cardenas, Tonja Conerly, Allatia Harris, Rosselle Helms,

Stephen Lopez, Lamar McWaine, Alexander Okwonna, Gabriel Rodriguez, Adam Rogers

Agenda Item Sponsor/Name Discussion/Decision - Action 1. Welcome

Harris Lopez welcome CDI members

Congrats Dr. Lopez!

2. SHRM Diversity Luncheon

Rodriguez David Barron- Labor and Employment Lawyer -Topic: New Legislation and

Discrimination Issues (panel discussion)

Lonica Bush-Director of Diversity and

Equity in HR at COM - Topic: Race

and Culture

Teresa Foltz-Senior HR Consultant -

Topic: Gender Issues

Monica Durham-HR Director at

College Forward - Topic: Hiring and

Retaining Millennials

3. Houston Hispanic Chamber

event

NAACP event

Houston Hispanic Annual

Awards 11/14/15

Okwonna Okwonna relayed that it was a great

opportunity to attend these events, and its

good to see the direction the college is

going, having a presence at these types of

event.

Okwonna offered an open invitation to

interested CDI members to attend the

upcoming Houston Hispanic Annual

Awards Ceremony. He still has 1 extra

ticket.

4. Hispanic Heritage Month

Black History Month

Super Bowl on Hunger

Conerly Conerly worked with Cardenas to ensure

that Hispanic Heritage month was

successful. The attendance from students

was notable, with 40+ students at the

multiple campus events.

The planning phase for Black History

Month is in process, and the expected

theme is Legends & Legacies.

This event will be held at each of the 3

campuses. Conerly announced that she is

collecting small hand and if CDI

Council for Diversity and Inclusivity - Meeting November 5, 2015 at 2:00 p.m.

C-11.1081 members want to bring some in for the

next meeting she will collect them to be

distributed to the homeless.

5. NAACP event

LULAC Roast & Toast

Women of Integrity/Men of

Honor

McWaine Agreed with Okwonna that it was good to

show college presence at this event.

Politician Anthony Hall received the

humanitarian award.

LULAC was a fun event with many

people.

Efforts are being made to find new ways

to recruit more female students for the

WOI program. Some feedback from

students and other employees has been

that WOI doesnt seem to have the same

resources as MOH. Structure is

continuing to develop.

6. TEXAAN Conference

CSI

Rogers Rogers updated the group that he will be

attending the Texas Academic Advising

Network Conference in February 2016.

There is ongoing in diversity and the

College Success Initiative.

7. Title IX & VAWA workshop

for student athletes

Funding is available

Harris Female and male student athletes

participated in the workshop, learning

about what sexual assault is and what it

isnt. There was also a piece on bystander

training.

For campus events that are hosted to

celebrate diversity among the student

population like the Hispanic and Black

history months, LGBTQ activities, etc. if

there is assistance in funding needed

contact the Vice Chancellor for Strategic

Initiatives office with proper

documentation of expenses and seek

budget transfer approval.

8. Hispanic Heritage Month Cardenas At the South Campus the following

events took place: 1. The History of Mexican

Independence

2. Latin Full-Time Faculty discussion panel for students to ask questions.

Topics included: How to handle

discrimination, Crossing over

Council for Diversity and Inclusivity - Meeting November 5, 2015 at 2:00 p.m.

C-11.1081 cultures, and Sharing personal

experiences

3. Hunger for Memory book discussion 4. University of Houston English

Professor Dr. Maria Gonzalez

discussed the process of obtaining a

Ph. D.

The council was curious to know how the

committees on each campus differed.

Some campuses work with the Provosts,

others do not. Funding is usually an issue.

We need to work on the structure. Its god

that it comes from Staff and Faculty, and

work on these events should be

recognized as part of performance

evaluations since the events provide

learning enrichment for the campus

community..

9. New spaces provided on

Central Campus

Restroom Renovations

Gym Renovations

Chapels/Prayer Rooms

Handicap Accommodations

Other diverse populations

Braswell 1. New Offices for Men of Honor and Women of Integrity in C-3

2. Lactation Room by employee request in C-4

The more diverse we become, the more

we have to adapt, be flexible, and think

about building buildings that will last 50

years.

Many universities have common areas

like sinks, where restrooms are enclosed.

Here, we opted to offer a family restroom

that anyone can use regardless of gender

if it is deemed necessary to do so.

We are providing private changing rooms

for any gender identification.

This has been talked about, but there is

more research to be done and safety is a

concern for possible targeting.

There are ongoing updates.

It would be good to see culture trainings.

We have a growing Asian population for

example- Whats considered appropriate

in their culture? It would be good to

understand different cultures in our

population better.

Council for Diversity and Inclusivity - Meeting November 5, 2015 at 2:00 p.m.

C-11.1081 10. Dissertation Lopez The topic explored was interviewing first

generation students to find out why they

pursued completion. What drove them

and how did they overcome? Findings to

be shared at the December meeting.

We may be able to find a grant that would

fund a San Jac series of short videos from

other students explaining their challenges

and overcoming them. It could really

encourage other students, let them know

that they are not alone. We could also

easily provide resources for local

counseling resources.

11. Intercultural Modules

Program Review

Montemayor-Allen We need more facilitators. If anyone is

interested, please contact Cynthia.

Module 5 will hopefully roll out in the

Spring. Now that the bond has passed

those conversations can resume with the

SLT. When Module 5 does roll out, it

would be appreciated to have honest

feedback from the friendly faces of the

CDI.

For the first time they are being included

in Program Review. Allatia Harris has

talked with Chris Duke about the purpose

in having councils as part of program

review. If some are, then shouldnt they

all should be.

Next CDI meeting is scheduled for December 3, 2015 at 2:00 p.m., District, Conference Room 104

Meeting adjourned at 4:30 p.m.