Attending: Rhonda Malone, Sivagami Subbaraman, Tom Connors, Evelyn Canabal, Amy McLaughlin, Christine Clark, Elaine Anderson, Gloria Bouis, Maurine Beasley.

I. Introductions

II. Updates

Faculty Research Forum: Gloria Bouis informed the committee that letters were sent out to the six presenters about the forum, and we were waiting to hear their confirmation to present.

The Committee discussed the format of the presentation for the Forum, and it was decided that Bob Steele, Marvin Scott, Elaine Anderson and Maurine Beasley would be on the Welcome Committee for the forum. Elaine Anderson would serve as moderator for the first panel, and Maurine Beasley would serve as moderator for the second. Marvin Scott would introduce Bob Steele, who would in turn introduce Dean Lowry to make welcoming remarks.

As a committee, it was decided that faculty who have classes between the hours of 12:30 – 3: 15 should be specifically invited to send their classes for the Forum. A discussion was held on ways to get faculty to bring their classes. The committee suggested that the faculty need to know more about the forum to decide whether it is appropiate for their class, so presenters will be asked for their discussion topics, and this information could be included in the letter that went out to faculty.

Committee would try and follow up with professors who taught during that time to see if they can persuade them to send their classes.

Tom Connors is to work on doing the poster and program for the Forum. In addition, OHRP will work with the Committee to provide tech support.

Faculty Support Award

Sivagami Subbaraman informed the committee that the FSA was up on the website, and two FYIs had been sent out. A flyer with information regarding the Faculty Relations Committee including the award will be sent out to all 4,000 faculty. Elaine Anderson, Seung-kyung Kim and Maurine Beasley volunteered to be on the FSA reading sub-committee when the applications were turned in.

Diversity CORE Curriculum Discussion

Dr. Christine Clark spoke to the committee about changing the Diversity CORE Curriculum at the University of Maryland. Dr. Clark explained her investigation of the change process at Berkeley and other universities and is looking for suggestions on how to change the Diversity CORE curriculum at the University of Maryland College Park. Dr. Clark explained to the committee that the Coordinating Council on Equity and Diversity (which includes Robert Waters, Cordell Black, Roberta Coates and herself) are exploring the possibility of holding a conference on campus that would bring in National Curriculum Transformation experts. She suggested that they would be working in conjunction with Deb Rosenfelt (Curriculum Transformation Project), and CRGE (Consortium on Race, Gender and Ethnicity.)

The Conference is scheduled for the Fall of 2003 or the Spring of 2004. The Faculty Relations Committee suggested to Christine that funding would be needed for the conference, and that the message needs to be disseminated across campus as quickly as possible. The committee is impressed with the idea but feels that it is too much for the committee to handle.

Next Meeting: March 10th at 2:00pm in the Family Studies Conference Room