University Committee on Women  

Minutes from August 20, 2003

Jischke Honors Building

Present: Liz Beck, Dianne Bystrom, Judy Dolphin, Lauri Dusselier, Jackie Litt, Pat Miller, Penny Rice, Claudia Baldwin, Amy Bix, Virginia Blackburn, Diane Debinski, Chuck Glatz, Carolyn Heising, Rita Marinko, Beth Brockman, Deb Parker, Jaye Stefani, Janet Tait, Lyn Van De Pol, Deb Covey, Lee Furbeck, Paula Gmelch, Julie Manning, Marie Mayer, Kristine Phelps, Camille Sloan Schroeder, Katie Pope, Lynn Lundy Evans, Hanna Schoenthal-Muse, Cheryl Abrams, Sheley Johnson

Introductions

Introductions of current and new members.

Minutes

Minutes of Committee on Women Retreat on 4/23/03 were reviewed and approved.

Review of 2002-2003

Beck reviewed the activities of the University Committee on Women. The primary work of the University Committee on Women (UCW) for the 2002-03 year was to follow up on the work done by the UCW in the 2001-02 year and most specifically the recommendations made by the study on the Status of Women chaired by Jackie Litt. The committee met regularly on the third Wednesday of the month during the 2002-03 year. Resulting from that report were a number of new university committees that carried on the initiative of the report, such as, Task Force on Recruitment and Retention of Women and Minority Faculty; Task Force pursuing an Advance Grant for Women Faculty in Science, Engineering and Math; Committee on Institutional Data Collection and Reporting on Women’s Employment at Iowa State; Committee on Women and Leadership; and Committee on Women Graduate Students.

The UCW also carried over from the 2000-01 year the involvement in the Arrival of Children Policy at Iowa State that is currently in front of the Board of Regents.

Issues of Gender Equity and Title IX in the Department of Athletics were identified as an important focus.

Beck asked each of the committee chairs to report on the current status of their committee as recorded below.

Subcommittee Reports

Family Leave Policy/Arrival of Children Policy: Susan Carlson

Susan Carlson reported that the negotiations with the Board of Regents that was to be discussed at the June meeting have been tabled. The Board of Regents is dealing a complaint from an employee at the University of Iowa pertaining to this policy. At the June meeting the Board also requested more information from the three universities concerning costing of the policy. The committee is submitting the information back to the Board of Regents, hopefully the policy will be on the September agenda.

Task Force on the Recruitment and Retention: Jackie Litt

The written report that was submitted in May is currently being discussed at the Provost level. In September, the Provost office will meet with the College’s Dean’s to discuss this issue. A report will be sent back to the task force with and developments.

Women’s Leadership Consortium: Susan Carlson

Susan Carlson explained that the Consortium is formed around areas on campus that deal with women’s issues, e.g., Women’s Center; Carrie Chapman Catt Center; Women’s Athletics, and the members sit on the Consortium by virtue of their position. One of the major issues last year was to initiate ways to help and mentor women into senior leadership positions at Iowa State.

The goals of this group this year are to initiate a way to provide fundraising issues for women’s groups on campus.

Advance Grant: Diane Debinski

Diane Debinski reported that the committee is continuing their work on the Advance Grant. There will be three resources for women who will be on campus and who also will be giving public lectures?

Partner Accomodation: Susan Carlson

Susan Carlson reported that the Provost’s Office recognizes a need for partner accommodation in the hiring of employees. She will report on more on this as the work progresses.

Athletics: Liz Beck

Beck reported that she had sent a letter to President Geoffroy in response to the publicity surrounding Larry Eustachy. The letter focused on issues of harassment and requested that President Geoffroy take a public stand against any form of harassment anywhere in the university. Geoffroy sent a reply acknowledging the UCW’s position. He requested that the Department of Athletics provide the employees with workshops on sexual harassment.

Institutional Data: Liz Beck

The committee, convened by Mark Chidister from the President’s Office, met twice during spring semester. Most of the data that the University Committee on Women identified is regularly collected. However, it needs to be organized in a reportable form. Two issues have yet to be resolved: what information should be in an annual report; and who should be responsible for the follow up resulting from the report.

Women Graduate Student: Penny Rice

Penny Rice reported that there is a greater need to focus on the woman graduate student. The graduate student senate is meeting next week and will further address this issue.

Priorities for 2003-2004

The priorities items that were suggested at the April 23 Committee on Women Retreat were discussed. It was suggested also that UCW should have more participation in search committees across campus. Other areas identified for committee work in 2003-04 were: College Review: Networking/Mentoring; Non-tenure track faculty.

New Subcommittee Members

Committee members signed up for various subcommittees. Following is each subcommittee and the new members. If you were unable to attend the meeting, and would like to participate in any of them please contact Sheley Johnson.

Fall Meeting Times

Fall meetings will be on the 3 rd Monday of the month from 3:00 – 4:30 p.m.
September 15 Room 144 Durham Center
October 20 Room 1235 Howe Hall
November 17 Jacobson Building
December 15 Hawthorn Court (tent.)

Announcements

UCW Fall Welcome Reception for Women and Staff New to ISU

Thursday, August 28 th, 4:00 – 5:30 p.m.
Hazel’s Kitchen at Rieman Gardens

Attendance is encouraged. Committee members were asked to make calls to new faculty and staff personally inviting them to attend this reception. President Geoffroy and Provost Allen will speak at the reception.

Women’s Deli Potluck

Liz Beck will be hosting the Women’s Deli Potluck.
Wednesday, September 3 rd, 5:30 – 7:00 p.m.
1119 Orchard Drive, Ames

Rules to attend: No home cooking, food item has to be store bought and in original store packaging. Members are encouraged to bring new women around campus and also from the community.

Other Issues
Web Page

The web page needs updated and kept current. Deb Covey volunteered to work to bring the web page up-to-date and keep it current. Thank you Deb!

Women’s Basketball Game Reception

There was discussion about sponsoring a reception prior to a women’s basketball game this year. It was suggested to check on the ISU vs. Iowa game in early December.

Recorded by Sheley Johnson