DE&I Committee Meeting Minutes

2022
September 8th
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November 14th
2023
January 26th
Febuary 16th
March 22nd
April 20th
September 12th
October 19th
November 27th
2024
September 10th

COEHS DEI Committee Agenda 

Date: December 2, 2024 - Time: 2:00-3:30 
Location: Multicultural Hub 
Officers 
Chair: TBA-James Martinez, TE 
Co-Chair: TBA   
Chair elect: Hanae Kanno, MSW  
Secretary: Rosalyn Martinez, CAMP 
    
Attendance: 
  1. Kathy Nobles, LTWD via Teams 
  2. James Martinez, TE 
  3. Rosalyn Martinez, CAMP 
  4. Hanae Kanno, MSW 
  5. Katie Reagan, CSD 
  6. Kathy Warner, COE Assoc Dean 
Absent: 
Jiri Steizer, TE – selected proxy is James Martinez 
Yunseon Choi, MLIS – selected proxy is Rosalyn Martinez  
Agenda: 
  1. Old Business / Previous Meeting Minutes –  
Last meeting was on September 10, 2024.  
  1. Dean Kate Update 
    1. COEHS Multicultural Hub and DEI committee webpage- shared everywhere it can be posted.  
Feel free to share with other departments to link, including signature lines, etc. The more widely it can be shared, the better. 
    1. James asked about linking with the Faculty Senate page, as Dean David was contacted by Dr. Shipra Gupta, Assistant Professor- Organic Chemistry  
    2. Web team is available for updates (Jacob Funk, Daniel Weaver, etc.) Review each semester. Update current DEI committee pictures. Fix Forbidden Page 
3. Commit to Free DE&I Self-Paced Mini-Courses from the Equity Learning Institute (ELI): 
            a. Understanding Equity and Inequity (or, What the Heck-uity is Equity?) - FREE 
            b. An Introduction to Equity Literacy - FREE 
 
  • After the pilot, the committee members considered creating an ELI certificate through Percipio with Ms. Wendy Byrd for all VSU faculty and staff as a PD opportunity. 
  • Committee committed to completing both the ELI free courses over the winter break with a goal for all to have it completed by the end of January 2025. 
  • James shared that it took him one hour, but ELI recommended to allot 3-4 hours. 
 
4. Hire a DE&I consultant (e.g., ELI Dr. Paul Gorski) to speak with / train us and prepare our committee and College / university for 2025 
  1. Kate shared about a monthly webinar (link in chat) and possible meeting with lobbyist, Merritt Wall. 
  2. Create proposal with goals and what expertise is being offered there not available through VSU 
  3. Funding- outside funding sources (divide amongst dept. Heads, university funds) 
5. Meet the DE&I needs of the COEHS via all the above 

6. Q&A  
    1. Kathy Nobles emailed Holocaust resource to James and committee. James will connect to his department head and recommends all committee members take back to their department heads.  
    2. Committee moved; Katie Reagan motioned to have James Martinez take the chair position for the remainder of 2024-2025. Kathy Nobles seconded. James is also an ex officio and may step down to a committee member who may decide they want the position during this time period.