University Committee on Women
Meeting Agenda
December 8, 2004
12 – 1:30 pm
2201 Krieger Board Room
Gerdin Business Building

Welcome, Introductions and Announcements
Ann Thompson welcomed everyone to the Holiday UCW meeting. Thank you for everyone attending.

Announcements

Open forums for Director, Student Financial Aid Finalists

• Roberta Johnson, Interim Director Student Financial Aid, ISU
  Wednesday, December 8, 1:30 – 2:30, Gallery – Memorial Union

• Julie Poorman, Director of Financial Aid, Berklee College of Music
  Monday, December 13, 1:30 – 2:30, Gallery – Memorial Union

UCW members are encouraged to attend and provide feedback for recommendations to be made to the search committee. A question was asked regarding this search: “Why does a woman get left as an interim director for over 2 years and then there is a search done for a new director?”

Student Issues
Karla Hardy reported that the black students are raising money to save the black cultural center. This group is trying to raise $40,000 by April 1, 2005 for renovations of the building. The Black students of ISU currently own the building, which is located on Welch Avenue just north of the towers. After the renovations are complete, the student group would like to work with ISU to turn the building over to ISU. Karla will keep UCW informed of progress with this initiative.

Report on meeting with President/Provost
The meeting with the president went well. The president and the provost acknowledge that ISU has not made progress with the issues involving women at ISU. Minutes from the meeting will be/have sent to the committee for review.

In the meeting Judy Vance reported of successful strategies used by Deans of Engineering that have been able to recruit and retain a significant number of women faculty members. Some of these actions include: accountability in all levels of administration, active involvement of administrators in searches, diversity education for faculty, and creating target of opportunity faculty positions.

Liz Beck shared a chart showing how ISU has made little progress in the area of women in leadership positions since 1987. This chart indicates that in 1987 there were 17 women in leadership positions, in 2003 there were 51 women in leadership positions. Although this is an increase, it is only about a 12% increase, which does not showing significant progress in 15 years. This number should be significantly higher.

Ann Thompson summarized the recommendation from the three major reports and the group suggested action plans to address these recommendations.

Report from Title IX – Lauri Dusselier
Lauri Dusselier reported that the Title IX subcommittee has been addressing concerns with the volleyball coach search to Callie Sanders. Email discussions offered suggestions of the importance to identify women who would be strong candidates for the volleyball head coach position. A letter from UCW was sent to Callie Sanders on December 9, 2004. In this letter UCW encourages a search that focuses upon identifying and recruiting women candidates for the position and the concern of the possibility of having male head coaches in the two most visible womens’ sports at Iowa State University, basketball and volleyball. UCW offered to provide any assistance and asked to be involved in the interviews for candidates. Callie Sanders is keeping Lauri Dusselier posted on the progress of the search. A memo will be generated and sent to Presdient Geoffroy and VandeVelde expressing these concerns.

Next Meeting
The next UCW meeting will be scheduled with notice sent out in January after the winter break.

Recorded by Sheley Johnson